Posted by Anne on July 01, 2003 at 00:22:00:
In Reply to: Use of Ace??? posted by Lynn Dague on June 30, 2003 at 22:58:36:
: I'm new to this board, as well as new to being a farrier(ess)! so please bear with me. I recently started working primarily on call in an equine clinic in Southern California -- primarily rather flighty performance horses with special needs. Most of the time, they're pretty well behaved (as are the owners) but there are several times I have feared for my life....I guess that't pretty typical when you're bent over in front a stallion fresh off the track :) The vets I work with have supplied me with acepromezine AND I have taken the appropriate classes to give IV, IM and SubQ injections -- they see no reason to attempt to force a horse into compliance and truthfully I CAN'T force them. I'm fairly small and they're fairly large. So we sedate them a little and everybody is happy. In addition, I ONLY use the ace on animals pre-approved by the vets and I ALWAYS make one last call prior to the injection to confirm dosage, etc.
: Here's my question -- a few weeks ago I was at a client's stable. They are regular clients at the clinic and have decided to use me more regularly. With one horse I suggested the use of ace, and was promptly fired. They claimed no "respectable, responsible" farrier would dope a horse and threated to call the humane authorities, my employers, etc.... total smear campain which I can't really fathom as necessary.
: AM I WRONG???? If so, I will glady hand over my syringe!
: Feel free to lash into me, I need the input desperately!
: Thanks
: Lynn Dague
I do not think you are wrong, but as you can see, some people have very strong opinions when it comes to something as controversal as sedating their poorly behaving horse. It is the owner/trainer responsibility to make sure that horse is capable of being worked on in the first place. I would back away from a client that wants you to work on a dangerous animal without the vet present.
However, I am surprized that the vet would actually suggest using "ace" to relax a horse for farrier work. Horses kicking response is very much heightened on "ace". Dormosedan is a much safer bet. The only drawback is that it does not last very long and is VERY expensive. Ace is cheap. I personally would not work on a horse that has been given only ace.