WDYD vet staff & improper handling

[Heinz_57]

I want to start off by saying I try very hard not to be one of those clients - the kind that try to intervene and/or boss the assistants/techs around on how to do things with my horses. I know what safe handling practices are and expect that they do too. I DO try very hard to make my horses as handleable and well-behaved as possible, for everyone’s safety.

That said, what do you do when one of them is handling your horse in such a way as to actually create/cause a more dangerous situation?

For context, the short version:
My youngster had to go back in for a follow up on a procedure. He’s young and looks around a bit, but leads on a loose rope and is respectful even in new places. Assistant took him from me, choked up on the halter like he was Secretariat headed off to the races, and never let go. Assistant then continued to apply continuous, heavy downward pressure to the halter (using both hands, at one point) while another person attempted to administer IV sedation, which naturally caused him to pull his head up and go backwards - with the assistant still practically swinging from the halter, never releasing. After the second attempt went sideways, I asked if she’d like me to hold him instead as it would likely make things less “exciting”, but she declined. I had serious concerns that she was going to cause him to rear and fall or flip over with how restrictive her grip was. He has absolutely never had any problem with getting IV or IM shots in his life before today, never needed more than a light hand on the halter to steady the head.

It’s all over and done with and we both survived, and I’m not planning on doing anything about it after the fact, but I was caught off guard and feel like maybe I should’ve controlled the situation a bit more. The assistant came off as fearful/intimidated and unconfident from the start, but that’s just my opinion - I have no knowledge of her handling experience.

So… What do YOU do in these situations?

[NaturallyHappy]

I intervene…

[NancyM]

Yes, I’d be in there like a dirty shirt too. I think that a lot of vet techs are actually pretty green sometimes, and it’s not worth my horse’s life to let them practice on a green one that nobody but me knows exactly what they might do, if handled improperly.

I have one that does not see a veterinarian where needles are going to be involved without atravet on board in advance. Because I know what she does. And few would believe in advance what she does.

[ReSomething]

Got a different vet. In my case it wasn’t so much the assistant as the older vet who had a brusque air and take no prisoners attitude.
Both my trainer and the vet really set the old guy off, he got much less tense with the much younger new vet, but yes, I had to watch this horrible experience occur and out of respect kept out of it, got a referral to a new guy ASAP.

[2DogsFarm]

I have to ask:
Was this follow-up in your barn? Or at a clinic?
If my barn, I do step in.
That said, I also trust my vet to know the extent of tech’s experience & she already knows my horses.
If at a clinic, I’d expect the attending vet to correct the tech.
Liability figures in if you’re on their ground.
You get hurt, clinic is liable.
When I had to have a horse put down at the (College Large Animal facility)clinic, I had to exit the stall while techs laid him down after tranq was administered, but they then stepped back & I was allowed to kneel, holding his head, as euth was given.

[Scribbler]

@Heinz_57

I want to start off by saying I try very hard not to be one of those clients - the kind that try to intervene and/or boss the assistants/techs around on how to do things with my horses. I know what safe handling practices are and expect that they do too. I DO try very hard to make my horses as handleable and well-behaved as possible, for everyone’s safety.

That said, what do you do when one of them is handling your horse in such a way as to actually create/cause a more dangerous situation?

For context, the short version:
My youngster had to go back in for a follow up on a procedure. He’s young and looks around a bit, but leads on a loose rope and is respectful even in new places. Assistant took him from me, choked up on the halter like he was Secretariat headed off to the races, and never let go. Assistant then continued to apply continuous, heavy downward pressure to the halter (using both hands, at one point) while another person attempted to administer IV sedation, which naturally caused him to pull his head up and go backwards - with the assistant still practically swinging from the halter, never releasing. After the second attempt went sideways, I asked if she’d like me to hold him instead as it would likely make things less “exciting”, but she declined. I had serious concerns that she was going to cause him to rear and fall or flip over with how restrictive her grip was. He has absolutely never had any problem with getting IV or IM shots in his life before today, never needed more than a light hand on the halter to steady the head.

It’s all over and done with and we both survived, and I’m not planning on doing anything about it after the fact, but I was caught off guard and feel like maybe I should’ve controlled the situation a bit more. The assistant came off as fearful/intimidated and unconfident from the start, but that’s just my opinion - I have no knowledge of her handling experience.

So… What do YOU do in these situations?

If you genuinely think it’s dangerous or its going to impact your horses training or attitude, then you wade in and make them stop like you would a naughty horse. Heyheyhey stop stop whoa let me have that horse.

Then do what you need to calm the horse down and bring him.back.

I would never assume a vet assistant had good ground skills. I know that most kids that come through lesson programs or even Pony Club tend to have a death grip on the halter, most times I try to get a new person to handle my horse I need to tell them to put some slack in the leadline. Death grip = safety to many.

Vet assistants come and go. Where was the vet?

If you love the vet I’d continue but not let that assistant handle my horse next time, if indeed they are still there. If I had questions about the vet already that could be a deciding factor to go elsewhere

[Demerara_Stables]

Moving forward, I’d reach out to the vet directly and ask that that assistant not handle your horse again.

There are lots of great techs, and there are lots that came out of tech school with zero horse experience or horse sense. When I was at a hospital, I taught a lot of the techs from schools how to handle horses because they had no clue. IMO, anyone can learn to run bloodwork or draw up vaccines, but when handling horses you have got to know what you’re doing. Scared, painful horses require experienced handlers.

Similarly, I’ve left two vet clinics because the techs would not listen to me about how to handle my reactive dog. If he’s introduced to someone and handled in a certain way, he’s great. If not, he’ll bite you. He always wears a muzzle, but at some point the tech has to be confident and has to be able to take instructions from the vet and the owner about how to handle the animal.

[Annie10]

Your horse?
You’re paying the bills?
Intervene.
I have no problem stepping in in a situation as described and if that tech or anyone else has an issue with it then let’s get their supervisor, the vet whomever involved.

[Heinz_57]

The vet was inside the clinic, presumably prepping equipment or something for the appointment. He was not present for any of this, and he has always handled my horses with great care. Same with all the other staff.

I guess I should’ve insisted more firmly on taking the horse back, instead of wording it more as an offer. I mistakenly trusted that a professional at an equine-only practice would have better skills, and I just wasn’t sure what to do when my offer was declined and they were continuing to try.

FWIW, this is a 14h pony with good loose-lead manners. Not some 18h dragon on a kite string

@ReSomething

I had to watch this horrible experience occur and out of respect kept out of it

Pretty much sums up what happened today. Lesson learned.

[Demerara_Stables]

@Heinz_57

I mistakenly trusted that a professional at an equine-only practice would have better skills

Don’t beat yourself up! You are correct that they should have better skills. Unfortunately, every single vet clinic is, and has been, short staffed for years. At this point they are usually taking what they can get when it comes to staff - I’ve seen it at all of the practices in my area. Hopefully this assistant will learn that softer handling yields better results.

[cayuse]

I’d probably intervene, but at the clinic I go to, owners are not allowed to handle the horse when it is being worked on/examined (they have signs posted saying this), so I don’t know how it would play out. At home, my vets wouldn’t mind me handling my guys and I frequently have to do so as the vet does come out alone sometimes.

[Heinz_57]

@Demerara_Stables

Don’t beat yourself up! You are correct that they should have better skills. Unfortunately, every single vet clinic is, and has been, short staffed for years. At this point they are usually taking what they can get when it comes to staff - I’ve seen it at all of the practices in my area. Hopefully this assistant will learn that softer handling yields better results.

Nope, just a learning experience! I am confident in my handling skills, but I guess I am not as confident about pushing ‘my way’ on others, especially in an environment in which they are a professional. My people skills need work, apparently

[Demerara_Stables]

All horse people’s people skills need work

[Arzny]

I’ve had a tech absolutely drag a lip chain over my sweet, young broodmare’s gums before we were going to palp her. I pretty quickly intervened by physically taking the shank and said something along the lines of “that’s not how I put lip chains on” and left it at that. This occurred in front of the veterinarian, who didn’t even blink. Iirc, the tech was fairly new and left the practice shortly after.

[Xanthoria]

@Heinz_57

After the second attempt went sideways, I asked if she’d like me to hold him instead as it would likely make things less “exciting”, but she declined.

Less ask, more tell.

Sorry that happened to you!

[Simkie]

Yeah, this is hard and I’ve faced the same thing.

I find it’s easier if I apologize and kind of throw the horse under the bus. “Oh geez, I’m so sorry, I know he’s silly, he’s got this thing and stands so much better if…” while taking the lead rope. It’s not a question or a request, more of a aw shucks apology that’s not hurting any feelings.

It shouldn’t be necessary but…you do what you gotta do.

[Heinz_57]

Yes, that sounds like a solid roundabout approach… better than saying ‘get out of the way, you’re doing it wrong you idiot’.

@Xanthoria

Less ask, more tell.

Story of my life. Always trying to avoid offending people.

[Cowboy_Girl]

I never let anyone handle my horse.
Its too easy to have this happen. If the vet and their staff will not respect my horsemanship skills and don’t take the time to discuss what my skills are and why that is my policy they can get another client.
Its too easy to undo a lot of training and create bad habits/anxiety when things go bad.

[lenapesadie]

@Simkie

I find it’s easier if I apologize and kind of throw the horse under the bus.

Yup! That’s what I’ve done when needed. Nowadays I just hold my own horse like it doesn’t occur to me to do otherwise.

@Heinz_57 I’m sure your horse will be fine and that you acted in good faith during the appointment. There is no shame in giving a person a chance like you did. Just no second chances

[luvmyhackney]

I don’t give up my lead rope unless horse is sedated or I know the vet tech.

Many techs have no idea and since they generally deal with horses that have no manners they just learn to be defensive quick.