A new horse: records and care arrangements
Start with what is known about your horse. Gather the original records, identify the current instructions and keep unanswered questions visible.
In brief
- List the documents you have received and those you still need to request.
- Identify who supplied each care instruction and which arrangements have been agreed for the new home.
- Keep previous records, new observations and planned appointments distinct.
On this page
Gather the original records
Ask the previous owner or carer which records they hold and how to obtain them. Record the documents received, their dates and where the originals are kept.
- Identification documents and the details used to identify the horse.
- Available veterinary reports, test results, vaccination and medication records.
- Available farrier and dental visit notes, including any agreed follow-up.
- Current care instructions and any written advice that explains them.
Mark missing information as unknown or requested. An empty record does not establish that a visit, treatment or condition never occurred.
Record the existing instructions
Write down the care arrangements supplied by the previous owner or carer, with their name and the date. Keep professional instructions in their original form where available.
For feeding instructions, include the product, quantity, unit, preparation and agreed timing. For medication, retain the prescription and the record of what was actually given.
Record the previous turnout, rug and exercise arrangements as background. Identify separately what has been agreed for the new home and by whom.
If an instruction is unclear, conflicting or no longer applicable, record the question and who will clarify it. Do not fill the gap with an assumed routine.
Connect the people and next steps
Keep the contact details for the people involved in the handover and the professionals who will care for your horse. Note who to contact about missing records or unclear instructions.
List appointments already booked separately from visits that still need arranging. For any suggested follow-up, record who recommended it, when and what they actually said.
Agree who will attend each appointment, obtain any report and share the resulting instructions with the people providing care.
Keep observations and questions separate
Date your own observations and describe what you saw. Identify information supplied by someone else as their account, with its date if known.
Keep questions alongside the relevant record: an unclear medication entry with the prescription, a missing report with the visit, or an unsettled responsibility with the handover.
When you receive an answer, record who provided it and any agreed action. Retain the original question and earlier records so that the change remains understandable.