WOW, but that weather has turned really cold just now. The feet were toasting nicely on front of the stove the other evening when the phone burst into life. My heart sank and my feet jumped back from the stove, as the awful expectation of an evening outing beckoned. Getting up and out on a night call is one hard part of our job as veterinary surgeons in this country. The nurse on phone-duty had just logged a call from an old client with an equally old horse that seemed to be in a spot of bother. “It seems the horse is down and groaning and Liam would like you to call out as soon as you can” she said. “On the way” was the muffled reply and I headed out into the cold dark night.

This was an old soldier of a hunter who had served Liam well over the years but had suddenly succumbed to the cold snap and was unable to muster the strength to go on. He was at the bottom of the big field at the back of the haggard and the long dry autumn meant that the hedge-cutters had enjoyed all the time in the world to skin the hedges over the last few weeks. Now it was the hunter’s turn to get skinned as the recent polar air drove fearlessly through the remainder of the hedge that was left as scant shelter for the old horse. Liam and myself were both skinned by the same wind as we tended to our old friend.