Author: evpost

Confidence Index

Action Point: Keep confidence index for skills from beginning of the course in mind while I go through the units.  

 Rationale:  Help to focus on the big picture for the course, if there are times when the details are overwhelming.

 

More details:

 

  1. Identify the value of effective communication as it pertains to your horse’s health;  8
  2. Identify individual needs of your horse regarding health management and disease prevention;6
  3. Identify common health problems and strategies available to prevent and/or manage them; 5
  4. Perform a daily health check and relay important data to your veterinarian that will aid in the health and welfare of your horse; 5
  5. Analyze biosecurity risks and determine the factors needed for infectious disease prevention strategies; 7
  6. Differentiate when immediate medical aid may be required or not, and identify first aid measures in different emergency scenarios; 6
  7. Ask your veterinarian educated questions, and discuss problems relating to your horse’s health in an informed manner so that you may assist in the formulation or revision of your preventative health program 6
  8. Find, interpret and critically appraise new information in order to update your background knowledge on a topic of interest. 6

S.O.P. 3.2 Health Records

Action Point: Compile and keep accurate Health Records of all horses that are kept on the premises for greater than 24 hrs

Rationale: All health records need to be reviewed, kept up-to-date and accessible, in order to establish and maintain appropriate standard operating procedures for the farm.

Health Records for each horse shall contain the following:

General Information sheet, name, breed. age, owners contact info.

Vaccination Record

Dental Record

Case History record

Treatment/Progress notes

Parasite Control

Laboratory tests/results

 

 

 

 

S.O.P. 3.3 Health Check Baselines

Action Point: Record baseline health check parameters for all my horses by doing a health check 3-4 times per week for 2 weeks.

Rationale: Assuming that the parameters will be relatively stable, this frequency will help establish my horse’s normal data. Keeping the baseline information in a digital file or a binder in the barn office will allow for quick referencing and comparisons when needed (if horse showing non-specific signs, if any parameter is noted to be in the yellow area, in the case of emergencies).

Here is the Data Sheet for printing:

HorseHealthRecord

SOP 2.1 Fire Prevention and Safety

This S.O.P covers the actions and protocols to follow in the event of fire in the barn or indoor arena. It is of critical importance to Establish, educate and practice fire evacuation protocols.

Rationale: Established evacuation routes, predetermined protocols for actions, and an awareness meeting and regular drills for all staff will ensure the policies can be enacted calmly and effectively if needed.

More detailed plan:

  1. Establish evacuation routes for all locations within all structures and assign a meeting place for all staff and horses to gather where a head count will be done.
  2. Ensure all staff are aware of this policy and hold Fire drills regularly to keep staff refreshed on policy. Coordinate with local Fire Marshall for fire extinguisher training on semi-annual basis to ensure any new staff have received the training
  3. Post clear instructions on Evacuation Routes and ensure fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment are accessible and their location is clearly identified.