A recent situation has left me with a question I don't really have an answer to. Here's the story...

"A pony was dropped off at a boarding facility and it colicked the next day. Owners came out immediately, didnt want a vet out, 2 enemas were given, hours of walking. Pony settled a bit, still no poop. They decided to stall him. That evening, still no poop. Pony obviously in pain. Owners didn't answer for a while. Pony was walked several more hours. Owners finally responded and pony was given banamine and walked some more. Owners still did not want vet out yet. Next morning. Pony still colicky acting but a bit better in the morning. Nickered to the care giver. Owners haven't responded. Still no poop."

Would it have been wrong for the facility to take the pony in and charge the owner for the trip (even knowing they'd probably never see the money)? Or do they follow the owner's wants of no veterinarian treatment?

What would you do? The horse lover side of me would've had a vet out immediately. The business side of me isn't so sure. 

That's a tough one for sure.  If it were me I would probably have the vet out knowing I'd likely never see the money. However, I do have a clause in my agreement for vet care giving me the authority to call the vet if it is warranted. I would think that from a business side, they would likely sue you if their pony died. Saying you should have done something when they weren't answering despite them having previously said they didn't want the vet out (which we all know is BS... but I have no faith in people anymore).  I would also politely give them 30 days notice that I would no longer be boarding for them. I wouldn't want owners that aren't willing to take care of their animals on my property. 

What the above responder said. Horse people are "sue happy" and probably wouldn't hesitate to sue if the pony died. Also can look bad on the business if word spreads around & parts of the story are left out. Next thing you know you can't get boarders to come in because they think your facility just lets horses die & not care.  I'd have had the vet out and told them if they're not going to provide the pony with basic veterinary care, which I consider emergency colic to be basic care, they have 30 days to get out. Or make up a new contract stating barn owner has permission to make those types of vet calls if they want to continue to board there. A colic call is going to be cheaper than getting sued. They'd most likely blame the colic on the barn. If that pony dies its on the hands of all parties involved, I've seen it happen before. In my contract I have it listed they can make the call in case i can't be reached and there's a limit written in the contract of what I'm comfortable with. Mine happens to be $10,000 per horse, because I'd sell my house or whatever I had to for them, but a general number of say $500 would cover most emergency instances like a colic or bleeding injury for the initial call. 

Why didnt they want a vet out? Is it because of financial or are they new to owning horses or ??? I haven't boarded in a while but I remember signing an agreement when I did that said if the stable manager thought the horse need emergency treatment than it would be given and we would be responsible for payment ... imo colic is always an emergency... especially if it's like you described. They told us theyd contact us first, give what medical care they could, ie banamine but the vet would be called if we didnt take the horse ourself or have our vet out. That's completely fair to me.

IMO, the boarding facility should have something in writing in the boarding contract about how they will handle vet calls for ill horses -- something the boarder signs off on up front, i.e. how the boarding facility will always have the horse's best interest at the forefront of decisions to call the vet, but all vet bills are the responsibility of the owner..... 

This is where contracts help (even for ponies ). My contract states that , I'm an emergency, I can get vet care for your horse as I see necessary and owner will be responsible for the bill. No one has time to chase down people or try to convince people of the right thing to do. 
I know a lady in this area that had to go to court for giving the neighbor's horse a shot of banamine when he Coliced. You definitely need to have an emergency care  plan in place.

Pony is old. They don't want a vet bill. Pony was only suppose to be there for a week while they fixed their fence. He kept escaping and almost got hit by a school bus. He had gotten into alfalfa about 4 days beforehand. 

Is the pony ok now? Wow, what a mess... just because it's old doesnt mean it should be denied proper care for colic. 

Exactly , just because he/she is old is NO excuse for NOT trying to help the poor little thing. I'm really on the fence about this boarding facility, this pony should have been taking care of. I would have hauled it in to vet, but thats just me. So sad.. These people dont need a pony, dog,cat or anything else that may one day need seeing a vet..

I don't board other peoples horses but I would even be hesitant to give banamine or any other prescription medication to a persons horse that was not my own. There was a person who was asked to give a shot to someones horse by the OWNER. Shot given and the horse had a reaction and died. NOT caused by the shot giver, but they still got sued for practicing veterinary medicine without a license.

You know what? To hell with the business end of it. That pony is living being in pain. I would have called the vet and I would documented everything and then I would hand it over to the animal control or whoever you call for animal abuse. 

YES YES YES

easy said till yu start paying a lawyer 300plus an hr . to defend you. and that the easy part

i know some agreement have that clause in them and the boarder has to give them a 300.00 a month escrow for worming shoeing vet etc. and each month they must make sure escrow is maintained

I am **** tired of people treating animals like they have no feelings. It's wrong. I had a lady buy 2 horses from us dirt cheap. We gave her books, saddle pads, bridles etc to go along with the horses. She had a gal mentoring them that had placed in the Mustang makeover and was a "horsewoman",

. long story short, they starved those horses and broke the mare's wind (yes it's a thing, and a terrible one at that). Sheriff had been called out and the barn owner called us to let us know the horses were in really bad shape. I was going to go get them and kick that woman's a$&, but my sister wouldn't tell me where they were, so I made her go pick them up. Woman had the nerve to ask us if we would compensate her money. I told her she was **** lucky I didn't hunt her butt down and kick her a$&. I told her go to the Sherriff's department and tell them about this. They have seen the horses. She never contacted us again. I guess I was lucky, but I wouldn't have cared if she had. 
I don't sell horses and I don't board because of this. 
sorry for the rant but this kind of thing just p$&es me off and now that I am over 55 I found I lost my filter and speak mind regardless of if I get blowback. 

You are absolutely my hero. . . . Momma tells me all the time my mouth is gonna overload my butt where animals and abuse are concerned, but I want to be just like you my bada$$ friend

Pony was ultimately euthanized after 4 days. He never seemed to be overly uncomfortable. He would nicker upon anyones arrival and departure. He had fresh water access that he never once touched. Vet ended up involved after all. 

He did not react to any treatment.

Banamine, tubing, had gut sounds, Mineral oiled, enemas, you name it. They tried.

Euthanasia was ultimately paid for by an outside donation. 

I just wonder if the outcome would have been different if medical treatment was seeked immediately. Owners didnt even want to pay for the vet, someone stepped up and offered. And the pony isn't suffering anymore.

At least he's not hurting anymore, God bless him.   Some people should just have rocks for pets since that's all they have for hearts or brains. . . 

How sad but sounds like those people shouldn't be owning any other animals. Having animals means having unexpected expenses along with plenty of expected expenses. I know it's not cheap to own horses or any animal for that matter. I learned with chuy it's best to have a plan in place for the unexpected vet bills. I now have a healthy credit card that's only to be used for emergencies for all our animals. Yes for sure it makes you wonder if the pony would have responded better if treatment would have been given at the first sign of it.. its impossible to say though in those situations. Poor little fella ..

Just so sad that someone would let this go on knowing this pony was in pain. I think the vet would have been a big help in the first 12 hours and maybe could have helped this pony, but you just never know if the pony could have been saved but I think it would have if they would have tryed to help him at the start of this, but sounds like to me the pony had a displaced colon, but will never know.. Poor poor little guy, will at least hes not suffering anymore.. These people that owned him are heartless and gutless. And having someone else pay for the vet, thats just WOW.. .....Glad good hearted people steped in and did what they could for the little fella. 

I was rather upset and saddened when it all happened. They are people that you would not have expected it from. I am sure had it been one of their show horses they would have called the vet immediately.

I have a 24 yr old pony and she even coughs wrong and I'm all over her and calling my vet for advice. My ponies are JUST AS important as my horses. 

I will never expect people to be morally inclined after witnessing this whole ordeal. Even people who are looked highly upon, as the grass isn't as green on the otherside as it may seem.

Well that makes it even crappier that since he was "just an old pony and nothing special" they basically didn't care if he hurt or died.  Good upstanding citizens. . . Should be proud of themselves. . . 

This is a GREAT point!  We sold a horse and shortly after sale became colicky, new owners gave apple flavored banamine (didn't know it came in flavors)  Anywho horse had a reaction to the flavoring and was at vet for 4 days, over what started as a mild colic case escilated. 

Also there should be a clause in the boarding contract covering this.  Ours has one, we will seek help, vet or farrier, as we feel warrented and it is at cost of the owner.

I charged a "security" deposit up front for illnesses when I boarded horses.