In preparing this guide, many owners were asked to comment on their vet bills. A river of complaints poured out. In a survey of monthly billings passed on to these owners, the source of the problem became very clear: in virtually every case, the owners DID NOT HAVE PRIOR APPROVAL of the medical expenditures, nor had they ever formally discussed with their trainers ways to manage or lower their vet bills.

As we mentioned earlier, the "average" vet bill per horse, per month, runs $200-$250 in Southern California, and about 1/3 less in Northern California. (It bears noting again that whenever we talk about dollar figures, locale plays a big role in pricing.)

If your trainer is one who does not rely heavily on medications or veterinary consultation, the monthly fee will be considerably lower. But if you have a horse thatīs ailing, or suffers a serious injury or illness, the medical bill can go well over $1,000 in a month - and indeed, nearly every racehorse is likely to go through such a period.

The only defenses against the monthly stab of the vet bill are:

1. to understand, as much as possible, the purpose of each treatment.
2. to have some realistic sense of the cost of each.
3. to keep in contact with your trainer so you are prepared for any unusual medical outlays.

In order to create an effective budget, a discussion must be held with your trainer in which you learn the trainerīs philosophy concerning the extent to which a vet is going to be used. You might also set a dollar ceiling beyond which your trainer must consult with you before ordering treatment. Also, though your trainer will (or should) inspect and initial the veterinary bill before passing it on to you, donīt be shy about opening a discussion directly with the vet or his office about the charges you will be expected to pay.

There is a complex formula to keep in mind when considering the overall trainer/vet symbiosis. Most vets will visit each of their trainersī barns every day and take the time to examine any horse with a "questionable" condition. The trainerīs Vet considers him- or herself responsible for watching all his wards for medical developments, and is motivated to catch them as early as possible to prevent breakdowns, illnesses and lay-ups. Usually, unless treatment is required, the vet renders this daily service without charge - but in fact the cost of this time is rolled into fees for treatments, so that the vet can balance out billing against time expended.

We could not receive an answer to the question: Would vetsī fees be lower if no "daily rounds" were involved? Obviously, this would make the vetsī billing a nightmare. But still, as owners, are we paying for the daily visit and extra exam that a trainer might be able to accomplish without the vet? Itīs a good subject for discussion between the owner and trainer.

The second fact to keep in mind is that, by CHRB regulations, the trainer may not have a syringe on his person or in his barn. Therefore, the trainer cannot administer injectable potions to any horse - and that includes such common necessities as vitamin supplements, emergency colic remedies, Lasix, Hyluronic acid for joints, and even quarterly de-worming. Since all injections must be given by the vet, he or she knows that these occasions - all chargeable - will help to make good on his or her many "for free" services.