The Adnostic

My sister, the one at the Caribbean vet school, has started her large animal rotation. This means it's time for her to practice her cutting and sewing skills on donkeys, sheep, cows, and horses. Apparently she's doing okay with the sheep and donkey, but she's having issues with the horse and called me for some sagely advice which would hopefully cure everything. Apparently she never got the memo stating that I am not a source for that kind of information, I only give out gloom and doom.

Me: So let me get this straight. There's no one in charge. The horses have no consistent training or handling. The school just sends out a fresh faced crop of vet students in their last quarter and tells them to feed the beasts and pick their hooves.

Leah: Yes.

Me: And she kicked you?

Leah: Yes. What do I do?

Me: Leah, these are essentially wild animals and you have every reason to be afraid. They can really hurt you.

[Strangely enough she found it reassuring to know that she wasn't being a total wuss.]

Leah: Okay, that helps. I'm bringing [fellow student with horse experience] to help me with her tonight.

Me: Good. I never want you handling this horse alone again.

Leah: Okay. I'll bring Tom [boyfriend] out with me from now on. I know I'm going have to do another large animal rotation at my next school [she has to do one more year at a school in the States], is this what it's going to be like?

Me: Most schools in the States at least have someone in charge of their horses and even have a riding and training program. You'll probably also be working on privately owned animals, and you may get a bad owner now and then, but for the most part the horses will be tame.

Leah: Alright. Thanks Beans!

Me: No problem. Just tough it out and keep in mind that this is almost over.

This is my way of telling her that for now she is screwed because whoever is in charge of the horses (and I have little doubt that SOMEONE is in charge) is an idiot and should be castrated for putting these kids in that much danger.