Emotions and Business

Selling horses and making tough decisions about illness and injuries has been the worst part of having horses over the last 30 plus years. In this society it is about making a profit, and keeping your head above water. I was a finance major in college and finance and business teaches you that objective mathematical analysis should inform business decisions. These were the values that most resonated with me as I became an adult. But reality is that emotions exist and when I've been faced with horrid situations with my horses, the business head just can't prevail and rule my decisions. I have faced so many painful emotional situations with my horses, like most of us have if we've done this for a while, from losing foals during delivery, breech births, mispositioned foals, red bag foals, late-term aborted foals, serious colic and colic with surgery and death, awful cuts, broken legs, phenomena, and growth problems needing surgery. The last one I faced was with Nicky my beautiful little filly by Mr Yella Fella last fall. She cut a tendon and as I arrived at the ranch, I stood in the stall looking at her with two bloody hind legs, and one leg which she wouldn't put any pressure on or stand on-or couldn't stand on. The vet arrived only a few minutes later, and the news quickly followed that she had cut her tendon and that it would take significant intervention and treatment. The vet called around to get advise on treatment and then presented me with my options, take her to a clinic for treatment, treat her at home with greater risk of infection, or put her down. The anticipated treatment cost ranged from about $4,000 at a clinic to about $2,000-$3,000 if we choose to treat her at home. But treating her at home meant that she had an increased chance things wouldn't go well, and we would have to keep her leg wrap changed almost daily for several weeks to months, and she would need to be on stall rest for at least 90 days to allow the tendon to heal. She also had to have a wedge heel put on that leg to elevate the heel keeping the pressure and tension off the tendon.  I stood bawling for what seemed like an hour, but was probably only about 10 minutes, while mom and I talked through my tears.  My filly was seriously injured, and how could I justify that kind of money on a filly that was nice, but was probably worth about $5,000? I decided to keep her at home and treat her. My biggest fear was that she would end up with a huge infection and I'd loose her after investing the money in vet costs. My mom and I changed her bandages and wrapped her leg faithfully following our vet's recommendations. We kept her leg wrapped for about four months total! The vet was out many many times for IV antibiotics and follow-up care.  Nicky made it!  It was not a decision that was easy to make, and I ended up spending about $3,000-$4,000 in vet bills healing her up. Emotions ruled the logic of finance on this one. Nicky now lives with a wonderful family in Utah. I rest well at night and trust that my good deeds will pay dividends in the end.