LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE SKULL SESSION
July 29

HOW THE INCIDENT WAS RESOLVED

JUMPER THAT DIDN'T QUITE JUMP

This problem is based on a real scenario and is presented for a "Skull Session" discussion in the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Facebook Group. A number of excellent comments were posted to the group. Here is a recap of the incident as presented, followed by group feedback and the actual details of how the rescue was achieved. Location The incident has occurred in the suburban edge of a metropolitan area alongside a relatively busy secondary commute surface road. Date and Time About 7:30 AM on a commute weekday in the morning fog. Incident Details You receive a call from Animal Services to assist with a thoroughbred horse that for some reason spooked and tried to jump the entrance gate where she was stabled. Given the proximity of the road, the horse fortunately didn't clear the gate but is now stuck with her hind legs unable to quite reach the ground. The gate is welded and cannot simply be unbolted. Equipment on-scene includes a dog catcher and highway patrol officer. Equipment enroute includes the local fire department's rescue unit. Upon arrival you see the horse hung up on the gate, hind legs dangling, with her owner at her head keeping her calm. The scene on your arrival. Skull Session Questions What are your priorities? What are the safety issues? What resources do you need? Describe your action plan. Group feedback. Please note that the details of this incident were described in generalities in order to generate the broadest spectrum of perspective as to what was occurring and what was needed among the skull session participants. Excellent thought processes were expressed by the participants. Recurrent responses. Safety first. Appoint a "Safety Officer." Monitor / manage nearby traffic. Call for a veterinarian. Keep unnecessary people away. Limit "rescuers" to people with protective gear. Assess the horse. It was pointed out that if this horse was a stallion or gelding, getting the pressure off the groin area ASAP would be a critical priority. This incident involved a mare so the rescue approach could be more methodical. (With a stallion or gelding the preferred initial action might be to cut one end of the top rail and bend it down in spite of the risk of the horse standing over a partially dismantled but still vertical gate.) Secure the horse with appropriate halter and lead. Make sure that the horse stays calm and that the gate can be safely lowered. Don't allow the owner to stand in front of the horse during rescue operations. Find a helmet for the owner. Provide support for the hind legs if practical to do in order to relieve pressure on the groin (e.g., build a dirt mound that the horse can stand on.) Several good comments suggested using slings and lifting devices to relieve pressure if such equipment is available.   ACTUAL RESCUE ACTIVITIES Upon arrival the owner, an Animal Control Officer and a CHP officer were present. A veterinarian was enroute. The horse was calm. Her hind legs were hanging against the gate. We opted not to try to build up the ground in this incident as there was no loose dirt handy (just mud in the drizzling fog) plus we didn't want her to get a leg through the lower rail. The owner had a calming effect on the horse and thus she was allowed to continue holding and calming the horse. The gate had welded hinges so it couldn't be simply unbolted. I called for the rescue cutting torch and our best on-duty torch operator. We located a saddle blanket to shield the horse's head on the cutting torch side. We had the horse's owner stand on the side away from the cutting operation. Setting up to remove the gate hinges The veterinarian "twilighted" the horse and monitored her LOC. We cut the bottom hinge first. Cutting with the acetylene torch We protected the horse's hindquarters with a fire jacket while cutting the top hinge. Personnel were in place to balance and lower the gate once the top hinge was cut. The gate sagged to the ground whereupon the horse was now standing on her hind legs. Once we determined that she had the strength to stand on her own, the gate was rotated flat and placed on the ground. The horse was given a short while to regain her composure, then she was led over the gate. (Note: There was not room to slide the gate out from under the horse due to the position of the gate posts but she walked over the laid-down gate just fine.) The veterinarian then provided a follow-up examination and determined that aside from some abrasions, the horse suffered no significant injuries. Go to Skull Session Index Return to the Strike Team LRTC Page This material is intended for the use of the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER) Facebook Group. TLAER is a trademark of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue.