Least Resistance Training Concepts
(LRTC)

Volunteers Training for Emergencies

  Large Animal Evac and Technical Rescue Activities
August 4, 2017

  Wild Horse that
Could Not Stand

Part Two

This feature is a continuation of Part One in which the context of this rescue is explained.

While the next phase of the veterinary exam was conducted and an assessment as to the need for additional sedation was made, the folding ramps were placed out, and a "Z-rig" haul line was set up to load the horse into the transport trailer.

Once properly secured to the Rescue Glide and cleared by the veterinary team for transport, the horse was loaded.

(The horse's eye protection was readjusted and head re-secured prior to the trailer moving.)

The job wasn't over upon arriving at definitive care. The trip was long, including a stretch over a bumpy Jeep trail, so the horse needed to be re-secured onto the Rescue Glide (all straps checked and adjusted) before removal from the trailer. Furthermore some immediate veterinary care was warranted.

The Z-Rig was attached to a shelter structure and the horse was carefully removed. At that point the crew assisted the veterinary team with the introduction of IV fluids and other medications.

Once the horse was stabilized, the next task was to carefully release the horse from the Rescue Glide as he would likely (and did) struggle to get up once he felt his restraints being loosened, even while sedated. This operation had to be as carefully coordinated as the initial "packaging."

Post Script:

Two days after initial intervention was initiated the horse started showing increased neurological deficits, so the decision was made to humanely euthanize the animal. Blood work did come back positive for West Nile Virus. In cases where intervention occurs early enough in the progress of the disease, positive outcomes have been achieved. However in this case there was no clear knowledge as to how long the horse had been symptomatic, and ultimately he had declined beyond a reasonable expectation of recovery.

Return to Part One


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