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5
EQUINE MATTERS
Here we recount a successful rescue that
occurred a couple of years ago following a
mare becoming trapped in a muddy bog
The owner called the vet and the local fire
service which fortunately had members that
were trained in safe horse rescue. The situation
was assessed prior to any attempt being made
to rescue the horse, a Shire cross mare in her
late teens. It is important that everyone works
together, and therefore, the rescue plan was
discussed with the owners, fire service and vet.
It is also important that everyone, except the
immediate rescue team, keeps out of the
cordoned zone unless requested to enter by
the person in charge.
The mare required heavy sedation because,
even though exhausted, she would make
attempts to try to extricate herself without
warning. As she did so, a vacuum was
created in the mud making it highly likely that
either one of the firefighters or the vet could
have been sucked underneath her. Sedation, in
calming the patient, prevents injury to the horse
and makes it safer for all concerned. The white
board beneath her head
(figure one)
was put
in place to keep her nostrils free of dirty water
to prevent it getting into her lungs. Once the
board was in place, two straps were placed
around her body which enabled us to pull the
mare steadily backwards out of the muddy
pond. The mare was assessed immediately
post extraction from the pond
(figure two)
for
broken limbs and wounds.
The pond was at the bottom of a steep-sided
field, and the mare was gently lifted and
carried to a relatively flat field in which it
was easier for her to stand
(figure three)
.
Once in a safe level field, the mare was
lowered gently to the ground and the straps
removed. Prior to this she was mildly sedated
again because she began to struggle. Horses
will often struggle as soon as their hooves
touch the ground making it difficult to release
them. The mare was released from the
strapping and able to stand on her own
(figure four)
. She was re-examined and given
anti-inflammatory medication to reduce any
pain or stiffness that may have occurred from
being pulled out of the pond or hoisted in the
air by the straps. The mare made a full and
uneventful recovery.
Every year horses and ponies are involved in accidents from falling into ditches
and being trapped in overturned horse boxes and trailers to getting stuck in
gates, cattle grids, ponds and bogs. The fire service has traditionally been called
to rescue these animals but, until recently, there has been little in the way of
formal training to enable the fire service to extract a horse safely from these
situations despite the fact the work is potentially extremely dangerous.
Veterinary Surgeon
Dominic Alexander
XLVets Equine Practice
Belmont Farm and
Equine Vets
HAPPY END INGS
Dominic Alexander BVMS MRCVS,
Belmont Farm and Equine Vets
Figure one. Exhausted mare stuck in the
thick mud of a pond
Figure two. Lying relaxed under sedation,
immediately post extraction from pond
Figure three. Mare being gently lifted and
transported to a place of safety
Figure four. Mare recovering in a place of
safety, a level field, after the ordeal
Happy Endings:
A Successful Rescue