I had a moment last week while performing a routine joint injection on a mare. As I was explaining the procedure, I caught myself joking about how much she might ‘enjoy’ the experience. It hit me that, unlike us, horses don’t have a sense of humor — they just look at you like, ‘Get on with it.’ It’s a reminder that while we may find our work humorous, they’re just trying to figure out what we’re doing with that needle.
Using a checklist really helps. Agree on the timing part — here’s what worked for us: a quick team huddle right before surgery to confirm each crucial step. This really minimizes the chances of something slipping through the cracks. Have you tried that approach?
Totally get it! I had a similar moment during a dental float last month. I found that telling a calming joke seemed to ease the horse’s tension a bit, even if they weren’t laughing.