As an equine professional myself (I run a small equine pulsed electromagnetic field therapy business), let me tell you about my favorite client, Nancy. Nancy is the master of proper horse owner etiquette when interacting with the professionals who service her barn. She always has her horses in their stalls at their appointment times, clean and ready for their exam or therapy session. She understands the need for a safe, clean, well-lit place to work, and the grooming stall is always available for me and my equipment. She’s there to handle the horses if I need help.
Nancy is organized, up to speed on her horses’ medical histories, and accurately relays messages between the different professionals on the horses’ team: veterinarian, farrier, and chiropractor. And, cherry on top, Nancy always has a cup of hot coffee waiting for me—a kind gesture that, while certainly not necessary, always makes me look forward to working at her barn.
As a new horse owner, it’s super important to get started on the right foot with the professionals on your horse’s care team. What you might not realize until it’s too late is due to the growing shortage of horse vets, many will only see emergencies for their regular clients. What does this mean for you, a new horse owner? You must establish a good working relationship with the veterinarian of your choice early on and stay up to date on preventive care with them—vaccinations, dentistry, and deworming being the main ones. Building a relationship with your horse’s doctor based on mutual trust and respect will benefit all parties, your horse included.
Horse Owner Do’s and Don’ts
When it comes to proper horse owner etiquette for interacting with equine professionals, many good practices are common sense. Show respect for the individual’s time and expertise, follow their instructions for your horse’s care, pay your bill on time, and express gratitude. That said, getting in the good graces of your vet, farrier, or bodyworker is not always as straightforward as you would think. Sometimes, well-intentioned horse owners actually make things more difficult for their service providers, so here are a few tips for those situations:
- DO communicate any health concern about your horse with your veterinarian. But DON’T ask them to prescribe a specific medication if they haven’t seen the horse for that particular condition. The law requires an animal to be examined before a veterinarian can dispense a prescription medication. Yes, this even includes the commonly used antibiotic SMZ or the stomach ulcer medication omeprazole.
- DO call your veterinary clinic’s emergency number if you have an emergency, but DON’T call your vet’s personal cell unless they have explicitly asked you to. In recent years, the equine industry has made big strides when it comes to respecting veterinarians’ “off” time. Contacting a dedicated after-hours phone number, rather than texting or calling your usual veterinarian, is becoming the norm at many practices. Bonus tip: DON’T wait for an urgent health problem to turn into an emergency situation at 10 p.m. before notifying your vet.
- DO show patience and understanding when scheduling veterinary work. Recognize that veterinarians are in-demand, busy professionals, and wait times for routine appointments can be long, especially if you are a new client. DON’T cancel your appointment at the last minute without very good reason. If you must reschedule, do so sparingly and well in advance.
- DO clean and dry your horse’s legs before his farrier or veterinary appointment, but DON’T apply hoof polish. Hoof polish might give your horse a polished look, but it creates a messy and slippery foot that’s difficult to grasp. The oil can also stain clothes.
- DO let your horse eat his grain before a bodyworker or veterinarian examines him. Nobody wants to work on an antsy horse that’s in a hurry to get back to his stall when dinner is waiting. So, most professionals will be happy to wait a few minutes for your horse to eat. But DON’T feed treats during an exam—they distract from the task at hand and can cause the horse to become pushy.
Being a Nancy-type client for your veterinarian, farrier, or bodyworker requires some effort and preparation, but the good news is if you’re reading this article, you are likely already committed to mastering horse owner etiquette. I know I am thankful for clients like you in my own practice!
Related reading: How To Navigate Equine Veterinary Visits
Lucile Vigouroux, MSc, holds a master’s degree in Equine Performance, Health, and Welfare from Nottingham Trent University (UK) and an equine veterinary assistant certification from AAEVT. She is a New-York-based freelance author with a passion for equine health and veterinary care. A Magnawave-certified practitioner, Lucile also runs a small equine PEMF therapy business.
Are you enjoying this content? Sign up for My New Horse’s FREE newsletter to get the latest horse owner info and fun facts delivered straight to your inbox!
