On-Site Education Programs | Off-Site Education Programs

Large Animal Rescue Training Outline

Introduction;
Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc.

Mission;

Days End Farm Horse Rescue is a volunteer based, animal welfare organization, established in 1989, to ensure quality care and treatment of horses through rehabilitation, humane education and community outreach.

•Background information;

Assessing a Rescue Scene;

• Safety;
Personnel
Horse

• Incident Command training; working as a team for a common goal.
Fire and Rescue
Police
Veterinarian
Animal control
Equine handle
Owner

• Evaluate the scene Talk to owner – determine what happened
Make sure a veterinarian is present to assess animal needs pre and post rescue
Is the animal salvageable?

• Set up a plan of action
Determine what you need to accomplish
Assess the risks; personnel & animal;
How to accomplish it with the least risk to personnel or animal
What could go wrong?
Plan B – If something does go wrong, how you can correct it

• Know the animal you are working with; Cow,horse, etc...
What are the body mechanics of the animal?
How do they get up and down?
Can they stand if you pick up one leg?
How do they bend, move etc.

• Tools for reducing Stress in a rescue situation
Ear plugs (knee high panty hose & cotton balls)
Menthol rub (Vicks) in nose to reduce smells
Eye covering to reduce sight
20 foot cotton rope – ½” diameter

• Reduce distractions;
lights
sirens
non-essential personnel

The Horse is Down

• What happened; Icy conditions
Mud
Cast up hill
Cast in stall
Old and arthritic
Fell in ravine
Ill
Injured

• Assess the horses condition (veterinarian)
• Determine; rescue or euthanasia
• If rescue, evaluate the scene and determine the risks to horse and personnel.
• Evaluate the risks to people
• Work on resolving risks
• Techniques;

Use ropes to roll horse – Three people needed, one for each set of legs and one for head.
• Slowly roll the horse over.
• Make sure that the person at the horses head keeps the head in the proper alignment with the horse’s body as he is rolled .
• Move out of the horse’s way
• Remove the ropes

REMINDER; Watch where your position is after the roll!
*If horse is cast up hill and it is rolled over, it may get up immediately
*If the horse is cast in a stall, you may be between the wall and the horse.

#Repeat; Situation may not be able to be resolved and personnel may or may not be putting themselves at risks.

Use of rope around the buttock;
Three people needed; One at the head and two on rope, placed under the tail, at the buttock and both ends of the rope brought forward toward the head. As horse tries to get up, make sure it’s legs are in proper position and then pull forward and upward to assist.

Scenario #1 - Horse Down

If the horse has been down for a long time and tried to get up but could not, he may be exhausted and need assistance. Have the veterinarian do a preliminary exam.

Note: We have found that when a horse has been down for a long time they may be dehydrated and need some water. In the winter, he may be cold and need a blanket to help regain body heat. In the summer he may need shade to cool down. He may just be tired and need more time to rest.

*When the horse is ready to try to get up, then you can assist.

You will need three bales of straw and three people;

• Get horse on his sternum (sitting position) and place bales of straw along its side to keep him from lying flat out.
• Allow the horse to rest in this position for a time
• Place rope around buttock under the horse’s tail and bring each side up to the front of the horse.
• Place one person in front with a lead line on the horses halter and one on each side with the rope.
• Make sure the horses legs are in the proper position to get himself upright (front legs in front of him pointed out)
• As the horse makes an attempt to get up, you assist by pulling up and forward.

• If the horse is not trying to get up, you can encourage him to do so in the following ways.

Yell in a loud manner and tell him to get up.

Play with his mouth

Play with his ears

Smack him on the buttocks for encouragement

• If the horse has been down for some time, you may want to roll the horse over to the other side before attempting to get him up. He may have weakened the side he is laying on due to lack of circulation for extended period of time.

*This is where watching horses, in their natural setting, getting up and down, is helpful to understand the mechanics of how a horse gets up.

Make sure that the rope does not slide down off the buttocks and down the legs. That may result in pulling his legs from underneath him.
Once the horse gets up, it may be helpful to massage his legs vigorously to help return circulation to the limbs. Walking the horse around may also be helpful to promote motility of the gut. Check with your veterinarian!

Scenario #2 - Horse is down, can not get up and you need to transport

*The most effective piece of equipment is the “Rescue Glide” but it is not always available for use, therefore the following are suggestions for making your own “Glide” with items found around the farm.

Making your own Glide;

Glide #1-Items Needed;

3 – 8 foot long 4 X 4 posts

1 – 4 foot X 8 foot Plywood Sheet

3/4 “ Nails or screws

Front End Loader

3 cinder blocks

Stock Trailer

• Build platform by attaching with screws one 4x4 on the right side, one on the left side and one in the middle of the plywood sheet.
• Place this platform next to horse
• Roll horse on to plywood
• Use front end loaded to lift front of platform off of ground
• Place cinder block 12” high end about 1-1/2 feet back under each 4X4 post
• Back up trailer to platform so that the front of the platform is on back of the trailer.
• Use front end loader to lift back of platform and push into trailer.

Glide #2 - Items Needed;

4 foot X 10 foot tubular steel gate

3/4 “ Plywood

Self tapping metal screws

• Lay the plywood on the gate
• Attach plywood to center of gate with screws leaving one foot of gate at either end not covered by plywood.
• Roll horse onto platform
• Use the extended part of the platform, not covered by the plywood to lift, pull or use process above with a tractor.

*Please note that these procedures are not without risks and, in our opinion, should never be attempted without the assistance of a veterinarian to assess and monitor the horse’s condition and administer tranquilizer as needed for the safety of the horse and the handlers.

Use of Slings

Attempting to lift a horse with a sling should be considered one of the more dangerous situations you can put yourself and the animal into.

It is important to stress a team effort approach to this endeavor.

Discuss among yourselves what you hope to accomplish, how you plan to accomplish it, what could possible go wrong and how you could correct the situation if the worst happens.

One person on the team should be assigned to observe only so they can look out for the safety and welfare of the personnel involved in the process and the horse.

Each person involved in the slinging process must concentrate on their particular job and will not be aware of things that may be happening as a result of what they are doing; i.e.: horse is sliding off to one side and therefore leaning on another team member etc…

*Again, we feel it is important to stress the fact that you and your veterinarian need to assess the entire situation….Will you be able to save the animal after you have rescued it?
In dealing with these situations over the years, we have found that sometimes humane euthanasia may be the best course of action, in some cases.

Mud Rescue;

Objects become stuck in the mud due to suction that is created around the item that is stuck. The best way to get rid of the suction is to introduce air. We have created a mud rescue kit which is made with the following items;

Portable Air Tank

25 Ft of flexible hose

1-1/2 “ PVC Pipe

Quick Connect Fittings

End caps for the PVC pipe

• Cut the PVC pipe into 5 foot sections and cut one end at a 45 degree angle.
• Drill holes on either side of the pipe about 4” above where it is angled.
• Mount a quick connect fitting into the end cap and glue it onto the uncut end of the PVC.
• Mount a female quick connect fitting onto the 25 foot flexible hose

To release the suction, insert the PVC pole next to the horse’s leg, connect the female end from the hose to the male end on the PVC and open the Air Tank. Once the air is introduced, the suction will be released.

Important things to remember;

1. Always, Safety First for personnel and animals
2. Assess the Situation and weight the risks
3. Have a Veterinarian present
4. You always risk injury to the personnel and the horse
5. You may or may not be successful
6. You always stand a chance to learn something new!

 

For more information call:
301/854-5037 or 410/442-1564
E-Mail: info@defhr.org

Physical Address:
1372 Woodbine Road
Woodbine, MD 21797

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 309
Lisbon, Maryland 21765

directions

Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer based humane organization whose mission is Fostering compassion and responsibility for horses through intervention, education, and outreach.