When the Phone Rings in the Middle of the Night

There are moments when everything else becomes secondary for horse owners. Your horse is pacing restlessly in its stall, has stopped eating, or is clearly in pain. Maybe it’s colic. Maybe it’s an injury. At that moment, only one thing matters: helping the horse as quickly as possible.

While owners organise transport and make their way to the clinic, everything is already being prepared at the Hanseklinik for Horses. Preliminary information is recorded, veterinarians and veterinary technicians coordinate their tasks, and the necessary diagnostic equipment is made available. This ensures that treatment can begin immediately upon the horse’s arrival.

After arrival, the team begins by getting a full picture of the patient’s health. Heart rate, respiration, circulation, and other vital signs provide initial clues. Depending on the situation, additional examinations are conducted to identify the cause of the horse’s condition and determine the necessary treatment as quickly as possible.

Time can be critically important, especially in cases of colic. But serious eye injuries, respiratory problems, or injuries from accidents also often require immediate action. For many owners, these are hours filled with worry and uncertainty. The mind races with questions to which one would most like to have answers right away.

That is exactly why our work at the equine clinic is not just about diagnosis and treatment. It’s also about listening, explaining the big picture in a way that’s easy to understand, and making decisions together. Every day, our team witnesses just how close the bond between people and horses can be. They know that behind every patient is a person who cares deeply about their horse’s well-being.

While most horse owners go home after their horse is taken in and wait for updates, our team continues to provide medical care at the clinic. We closely monitor the horses, check their infusions, prepare medicine, and document clinical test results. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians work hand in hand, constantly exchanging information about the patients’ conditions.

Many of these processes remain invisible to outside observers. However, they ensure that comprehensive care is available even in the middle of the night. For a horse to receive the same diagnostic and treatment options at 2:00 a.m. as it would in broad daylight, it takes experience, organization, medical equipment, and, above all, people who are willing to take on responsibility.

Illnesses and injuries don’t happen according to business hours. And when a horse needs help, it needs to be available, no matter what time it is.

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