Least Resistance Training Concepts
(LRTC)

Volunteers Training for Emergencies

  Large Animal Evac and Technical Rescue Activities

  Rescuing a Drowning Wild Horse
from the Milan Pond
PART TWO
This feature is a continuation from Part One.

Once the horse was out of the mud, we needed to wash off some of the mud from her eyes and nostrils, and remove wadded up mud from around her legs and hooves. This procedure had to be conducted cautiously as the horse was hypothermic from being in the muddy water. Therefore we wanted to avoid any additional cooling. Fortunately the water was slightly luke warm as the long hoses that were deployed had lain out in the sunlight prior to the water being applied.

Following necessary "clean up," the horse was blanketed so that she could passively rewarm. It is critical not to stimulate a hypothermic horse by rubbing its hide. Plus in the field, and especially with a wild horse, formal veterinary interventions are usually not available. The blanket absorbed some heat from the sunlight and prevented any chilling effect from the breeze on her wet hide.

(It should also be noted that mud can sometimes be an effective insulator so it's often not necessary or beneficial to get carried away with washing off.)

After resting, the horse eventually got back onto her feet, regained her balance and composure, and walked off. (Horses typically just want to walk off when freed from an entrapment.)

The responders positioned themselves to discourage the horse from inadvertently drifting back toward the sticky mud.

And she eventually just walked off.

Once it was clear that the horse was back on her feet and moving well, it was time to pack out and clean up the equipment so the volunteers could return home.

The various vehicles and equipment that responded.

Packing the gear back up the hill

Hosing off the equipment before repacking.
(The gear still required a more through cleaning back in quarters which took a couple of hours.)

Epilogue.

Following this incident TRIC, the American Wild Horse Campaign, and a local materials company worked out a practical way to maintain the level of water in the pond so that the horses would still have access to water, but this type of incident should not be repeated during dry seasons.

Continue to Wild Horse with a Tomato Cage Stuck on His Head

Return to Part One


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The training information presented in these information sheets and guides is offered for illustrative and volunteer refresher purposes only. It is not a substitute for actual hands-on training.

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