25/03/2020
As horse owners we still need to look after the basic needs of our equine friends. They still need to be checked twice a day, given access to water, fed (where required!), groomed, have their feet picked out and ideally be turned out if appropriate.
Sudden management or feed changes are likely to lead to veterinary problems such as colic or laminitis and as such should be avoided to minimise the impact on animal welfare and the requirement for veterinary intervention.
It is however sensible to adjust our practices on the yard;
*Work alongside your livery yard owner to help keep everyone safe,
*Try to stagger visits to the yard so people from different households don't meet,
*Minimise the number of people visiting the yard,
*Consider sharing the work load out to minimise the number of individual visits to the yard required for example, one person could do the am shift for several horses and another the evening shift without ever meeting
*Practice social distancing - 2m minimum distance between humans
*Avoid congregating around the muck heap or in the tack room
*Try to avoid sharing equipment and where this is not possible clean it with household cleaning preparations between each use
*Don't stop for a coffee and a catch up
*Wash your hands frequently and definitely before and after visiting your horse
*Make a plan for their care should you or your family have to self isolate, leave clear instructions for daily care and telephone numbers for emergencies
*Strongly consider not riding, we all know there is a risk involved every time we hop on board and anything we can do to minimise the burden on the NHS is helpful.
Above all try and keep smiling, our horses, ponies and donkeys are a source of great comfort to us at this difficult time. Join in and share your positive pictures on Facebook.
-Advice emailed to me from my veterinary practice