Every equine operation requires careful planning

With the average horse weighing around 500kg, their sheer size and weight present additional risks compared to small animals, making careful planning, specialist facilities and an experienced team essential.

Here at Fairmoor Equine Clinic in Morpeth, we are fortunate to have our own operating theatre, padded knock-down and recovery room, allowing us to perform a range of surgical procedures, some of the most common being arthroscopies, tenoscopies, neurectomies and fasciotomies.

Horses are usually admitted the day before surgery for pre-operative checks and preparation. Most procedures take place first thing in the morning, allowing our team to closely monitor each patient throughout the day as they recover from general anaesthesia.

Every operation requires a dedicated team working together behind the scenes. This includes the surgeon, anaesthetist, qualified veterinary nurses and animal care assistants, who all play a vital role in ensuring our patients receive the best possible care while the clinic continues to run smoothly.

Once prepared, the horse is carefully guided into our padded knock-down/recovery room, where general anaesthesia is administered. This is a highly coordinated process requiring experienced vets and nurses to safely guide the horse to the ground. With some patients weighing up to 800kg, the safety of both the horse and our team is paramount.

Once anaesthetised, the horse is lifted using our large mechanical hoist, which can support up to one tonne, and transferred into theatre. They are positioned on their back on the operating table, ready for surgery. Most procedures take between one and two hours, during which the surgeon performs the operation while the anaesthetist continuously monitors the horse’s vital signs.

When surgery is complete, the horse is carefully hoisted back into the recovery room.

Recovery is a particularly important stage, as horses must regain their balance and stand safely on their feet, which can sometimes be tricky when you weigh around half a tonne! A vet monitors the horse from a height, using a pulley system and guide lines attached to their headcollar and tail to help the find their horse balance.

Every recovery is different: some horses need a little extra assistance, while others get up remarkably calmly, as though they have simply enjoyed a long snooze!

Once safely standing, the horse returns to their stable to continue recovering, with our team monitoring them closely for the remainder of the day.

We are incredibly fortunate to have these facilities at Fairmoor Equine Clinic, but it is our fantastic team, their expertise and teamwork that make these procedures possible.