Jimmy Bankston

Vets are no different from people doctors in the cost of their education. Except their patients can't talk.They can't lie. However, owners, on rare occasion, can be mistaken. Especially if they are embarrassed they did something embarrassing. Like not walking the stalls two or three hours after evening feed. A colic caught early is often a minor, treat-it-yourself problem. Provided you had the foresight to learn what a colic does or doesn't look like, obtained the proper drugs and learned how to give an injection. Cornbread thinks every horse owner should be competent on this. Get schooled.

Veterinary science is as advanced as people science, sometimes more. The electronic imaging some vets have is better than some local hospitals. The 4-year-old year in an aged-event horse is critical, since this is the home of the big purse. Sore or lame horses must be seen, diagnosed and treated quickly and efficently as possible. Promising horses have lots of eyes on them. A trainer showing up at a major aged event without his "good horse" will create questions. Some that can lead directly back to bloodlines throwing injury-prone horses. Good vetting is a must.

Some vets work out of a multiple-million dollar facility with a cabal of other vets. Others have no clinic at all, working out of a pickup with a $20,000 vet box. All this without discussing the "Breeding Facility" vets, which "stand" a battery of stallions.

Earlier this year, when we had the EHV-1 outbreak, the entire vet community worked together to ensure the best possible controls. It was a remarkable and successful effort. They gave time, took thousands of phone calls, verified or debunked rumors and made sure the equine community stayed informed. A 100 percent positive diagnosis of this disease is very difficult. They took the cautious but best route for the equine community. They took a lot of heat, too; cancelling big horse shows and parking show strings is not popular. It was the right thing, though.

The "Pre-purchase exam" is another service we rely on and a minefield for a vet. Not unusual for pitcher and catcher to both be customers. As long as the horse vets out sound and doesn't die or come up lame within about 20 years, the vet should expect no problems. However, if the exam reveals some problems causing the sale to be cancelled, then headaches are happening. Even ending up with both sides mad. Especially if the seller then discounts the horse to another buyer who goes out and wins the World. Just because chips show on images doesn't mean they are going to fire off. But 50 grand is a lot of money for a crippled show horse. Pre-purchase exams are not crystal ball deals they are the condition today. The biggest parts are black and white, needing little explaining. Saddling your vet with the responsibility of an opinion does not relieve you of being the final decision-maker. You picked her.

A real complication with vets is they are human. They have hearts and souls and even a conscience. Their professionalism hides the grief and pain they feel when a severely traumatized animal is in front of them. They get angry when an owner opts to neglect a horse to death rather than euthanize. It bothers them to do colic surgery on a horse that has only a slim chance of surviving. One that should have been discovered hours earlier. They don't like you to ask or even expect them to lie for you.

Most nearly all vets will come to you and maybe think twice about one who won't. There are emergencies in which transporting is not going to happen till some care is given. Make sure they know where, even in the dark. Learn equine first aid. Have the supplies. Don't scrimp, especially on what you need to stop bleeding and pressure wrap. That towel you stole from the Bellagio and duct tape are poor substitutes.

Having the vet come to you for maintenance is a good deal for you. You should make it a good deal for them, too. Have them ALL up and ready, with good halters and lead ropes. Out of the hot, cold and wet. Non-slip floor. Hot water is a plus. Proper cross ties are important. A set of stocks is really nice. Best thing you can do is have them broke to handle. Vets are not horse trainers.

Cornbread thinks you should handle them with as much care as they do your horses.

Read more Cornbread here.