Admissions into the Hospital

Please remember to bring the following items for admission to the hospital:

• Your horse’s passport (this is a legal requirement), we'll check this on admission
• A copy of your insurance claim form, with the owner’s section complete, if you are uncertain of any insurance matters please speak to a member of our reception before your appointment
• Appropriate rugs if your horse is staying with us
• Any drugs/supplements that you require your horse to have whilst with us
• Please let us know what hard feed your horse has as we provide this, or you can bring your own feed

Lameness investigations may involve multiple days’ work - therefore be please be prepared to leave your horse with us. Also, be aware that hospitalisation charges will be made from the day the horse arrives with us until the day the horse is discharged.

Ideally keep your horse in light work until the appointment date unless your veterinary surgeon has advised you otherwise.

If your horse is normally shod, please leave these shoes on. Unshod horses may become foot sore whilst being trotted up for the lameness examination, which could therefore complicate the diagnosis.

Any anti-inflammatory or pain killing drugs, such as bute and metacam, should be stopped at least 48 hrs before the horse’s appointment, (unless advised otherwise by the Veterinary Surgeon).

Horses will generally be asked to arrive at the clinic a day before the surgery to allow the horse to settle in their new environment.

Your vet may have discussed the risks and estimated costs relating to the particular surgery for which your horse is scheduled, any questions you have you can arise with the Veterinary or office staff prior to bringing the horse into the clinic. General anaesthesia has associated risks and you will have been sent a letter stating these risks prior to the surgery.

Please read our anaesthesia risk information.

Antibiotics and anti inflammatories will be administered routinely pre- and post-surgery, please advise us of any known drug reactions or allergies prior to treatment. If your horse’s elective surgery had to be delayed by a emergency surgery you will be notified.

Following surgery, you will be contacted, either by the surgeon or intern, when your horse is standing - this is likely to be a number of hours after the procedure has started.

The aftercare of the horse is better carried out under veterinary supervision, and your horse will remain at the Minster Veterinary Clinic until it is safe for the horse to travel home and you are able to care for the horse’s needs.

We have ample room for parking and turning of large lorries.

You are welcome to leave your lorry or trailer at the clinic, just let us know. However, this will be left entirely at your own risk and The Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic hold no responsibility for loss or damage.

Normally you will receive a daily update via telephone from one of our Interns, usually mid-morning after daily rounds. They will let you know how horse is doing and what is the next step for diagnosis and treatment. The veterinary surgeon dealing with your case will also contact you if there are any issues.

Please remember – No news is good news 🙂

When visiting please report to reception and a member of our team will let an intern know you are here; they will then take you to your horse. Please respect the confidentially and privacy of the other owners and their horses and do not wander around unsupervised.

We can usually be fairly accommodating with visiting times; however, we would ask you to please ring ahead to let us know you are coming. We can then ensure someone is around to talk to you if required, the Clinic can become very busy at times and unfortunately you may be required to wait.

Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday & Sunday 8am-10am or 4-5pm

If these times are unsuitable you may be able to arrange to see your horse outside these hours – please phone the clinic on 01904 788840

Once your horse is ready to return home, you will be given a written set of discharge instruction, stating the after care for your horse and specifying any drugs to be administered.