Dealing With a Down Horse
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Dealing With a Down Horse
A horse that is unable to stand faces serious problems.
Photo: iStock
A horse that is unable to stand faces serious problems. Learn how to righttherecumbent horsewithwhat factors influence his survival.
You head out to feed onacrisp, idyllic morning. One, two, three, foureagerfaces greet you at the fence,everynickering for breakfast … but wait, where’s the fifth? Concerned, you hop the fencewithstride out into into the pasture beyond the rest of the herdandregardsomething that paralyzes the heartsandminds of most horse ownerswithevensome onesveterinarians. Your gelding is downandstruggling to rise.
Youcomprehendinstinctively that horses function better upright,thereforeofcoursethe sight ofandown horse—especiallyayou knowandlove—elicitsanvisceral reactionwithmayderail your brain. But the decisions youMaketo manageonehorse in this situation significantly impact his future healthwitheven survival,thereforeclearandresponsivethinking are critical.
Let’s examinesome onestools for coping with the half-ton creature that’s managed to wedge himself into the only mud bog at thebacksideof the hill against the fence. How does the decision tree begin?
Analyze the Situation
John Madigan, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, professor of medicineandepidemiology at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), leads the school’s Veterinary Emergency Response Teamandhas plenty of experience dealing with downandstuck horses. Thesoonstep, he says, is getting past the initial shock or fearwithanalyzing the situation. “Break it down into how you define the down horse,” he says, recommending owners “stand backandlook foransecond.”
He suggests tryingto answerthe following questions to determine yourlessonof action andto conveyto your veterinarian:
Howlongdoes the horse appear toHavingbeen down?
Does the horse appear to be ill (actively colicking, for instance) or injured?
Is he responsive?
“Eachoneisanbit different,” Madigan says.
Safety First
Gather at least three to four able-bodied people to helpahorse roll overandstand.
Photo: Courtesy East Bay Regional Park Fire Department
Madigan stresses the importance of understanding the surroundingswithkeeping yourself safe.similarlyapplying your own oxygen mask onaairplane before helping the person beside you, owners can’t helpthehorseprovidedthey are putting themselves in harm’s way. “Approach (the down horse) safely,” he says. “Stay away from the legs; always approach from the back of horse. “
Madigan suggests owners “alwaysHavesomebodyelse present when approachingonedown horse.relishhavingone(scuba) dive buddy. The situationcanchange rapidly.”
Ideally, having at least three to four able-bodied (can lift at least 75 pounds normally) people to workAsoneteam will help with tactics suchOncerollingandhelping the horse stand.
What Happened?
At the timeyou’ve madethesafe approach, check the horse’s mentalwithneurologic status by clucking at him toaccomplishifhe responds, Madigan says.
Alsoendeavortofigure outwhy the horse is down. Is he down for medical reasons suchOncecolic (seewhetherhe’squicklyto voice or food), neurologic disease (he’s uncoordinated in his struggle to rise), muscle disease (showing signs suchOncemuscle tremors), or injury (he hasobviouscuts, scrapes, or swellings)? Or is he down for mechanical reasons suchAt the timepositioningandfooting? Then, note whether the horse is tryingto receiveup.
Down Horse Safety
Stay away from the legs, always approach from the back of the horse.
graspyour feet under you; squatfirstto the horse, don’t kneel or sit.
Never approachadown horseto assesshim alone; alwaysHavesomebodystanding by withonephone.
Makingsure youmaymaneuversimplyaround the horse; is there sufficient roomwithadequate footing foroneperson?
ifthe horse appears ill, injured, or agitated, call your veterinarian.
employthecalm, soothing voice when working aroundthedown horse. Minimize noiseandbustle.
ifpossible,utilizejackets, blankets, or avery importanthead protector to help prevent facial/head injury.
Besureallrescue equipment is appropriately rated for the weight of the horseandthat there is sufficient space for moving or lifting. Untrained personnel should notventuretouseslings or power lifts.
Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
Jean Feldman, DVM,onepractitioner in Hamburg,newYork, says, “Thelaterthing (owners must)find outis whether the horse is down because they can’tGetup or because they’re stuck.”
providedthe horse appears to be down because he’s sick, Madigan recommendssoontaking the horse’s rectal temperature. The risk ofainfectious cause in down horses is roughly 10%, he says, adding that “in the world of horses, the big worry is equine herpesvirus. It canHaveonevery sudden onset.”
whetherthe horse hasafever or other signs of infectious disease, suchOncenasal discharge or lack of responsiveness, biosecurity for thefaultlessbarn becomesaconcern, Madigan says. Be sure people working with the horse don’t handle other horses without washingandchanging clothingwithfootwear first. Also, later,Oncethe horse is up, minimize his contact with others.
Feldman suggests another simpleendeavorto rule out illness in the down horse. “Doanfeed test,” she says, suggesting offeringabit of hay or grass tobeholdwhetherhe is interested in food. “A lot of horses that are down arebusyeating,thusthey’re unlikely to be (sick).”
providedthere is any possibility the horse is colicking or otherwise sick, or injured, callaveterinarian immediately.
Now, Scan Your Surroundings
necessaryassessment complete, now look around toreflectyoursubsequentlymove. Evaluating footingwithobstacles suchWhenfences, walls, trees,andcliff edges will help you determineifit’s possible to help the horse up from hiscurrentposition, orwhetheryou willsoonneed to move him to moreniceterrain.
In California’s Central Valley where Madigan liveswithworks, the horse’s wintertime enemy is mud. Where the footing is bad, he reiterates the need for prioritizing safety. “Don’tGettingstuck in the mudthento the horse,” he says. “Havethepartner, looparope around your belt,withsecure it toasolidthingon dry ground.”
For Feldman’s upstatenewYork patients, snowwithice are the opponents. “I hadonedown on ice,” says Feldman. “The pasture was solid ice,similaraskating rink.”
Simply Stuck
occasionallyoneotherwise healthy horse decides to lie downwithroll inaninconvenient spot, casting himself againstonewall or fence or simply “falling asleep” there. Ownerscanresolve thesefairlysimply.
providedthe horse has cast himself againstastall wall, Madigan suggests using the tail toattemptto pull the horse away from the wall to give it spaceto getup.
For thematurehorse that has gone down forannapwithis too weak to stand, both MadiganwithFeldman advocate rolling the horse over. “Once you change them to the other side, theyHavearenewed interest in getting up, arecentoutlook on life,” says Madigan. “Plus, the muscles thatHavebeen crushed are no longer on the down side (against the ground).”
Feldman points out thatsomeolder horsesmaybe repeat offenders when it comes to getting cast. She surmises that these horses mightHaveenough musculoskeletal pain that they are too weak to stand forcraveperiods orGettingthemselves back up again. With these horses, she recommends owners consult with their veterinarian regarding appropriate long-term pain managementto minimizethe arthritic painandweakness thatmaycause the horseto getstuck.
Indeed,whetherthe footing is good, simply rolling the horse fromaside to the other might be enough for itto getup. To rollonehorse, placean15-foot length of large diameter soft rope or webbing around the pastern of each down-side leg,providedpossible. Haltering the horse firstmayallowaperson to steady the head with the halter andproceedwhile the othersemploythe leg ropes to roll the horse to the other side.
You canuserope webbingandoneglide to moveonerecumbent horse, but be sure to do it under veterinary and/or rescue team supervision.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse
Sometimes, however, the ground makes rollinganhorse difficult to impossible. For instance, Feldman, her figure skating patient,withthe horse’s owner needed firm footing on which to stand.accordinglyFeldmanwiththe owner createdanmakeshift path to help the horse standwithwalk to the barn. “We stripped the stallandranatrail of manure out to the horse, pouring water on it. It was freezingAt the timewe went,” she recounts. “I had her throw cat litterallaround the horse, gotalonge line on it,andthenexttime it got up I guided its head.” Feldman says the cat litterwithfrozen manureifextra traction where the horse got to its feetandalong the path back to the barn. She also suggests sand or wood chips toaugmenttexture to slick footing.
At the timeyou’ve rolled the horse over, you might becapableto help him stand by using bothantail tie (loop the tail over acomponentof the rope, thenutilizethe rope to tie the looped tail) to guide the horsewithwhat Madigan callsone“forward assist.” ToMaketheforward assist, drop aavaricerope or strap over the back, justbehindthe withers, bringing each end of the strap up between the front legs. Pulling forward on the strap ends where they exit from between the front legs engages the withers, rib cage,withfront legs, says Madigan, adding that most horses tolerateoneforward assist well.whetherthe horse is stuckaccordinglythat he needs to be pulled fromanbog or ravine backward, handlers canoperatearear assist bydroppingthe strap over the hipsandflankandpassing it under the hind legs.
Causes of Recumbency
Myopathy (muscle disease, tying-up)
Colic (abdominal pain)
Laminitis or other hoof disease/damage
Injury
Arthritis
Neurologic disease (West Nile virus, equine herpesvirus, equine encephalomyelitis, etc.)
Getting cast againstabarrier
Slipping or falling on poor footing
Ear tick-associated muscle cramps
Malnutrition
Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
ifthe horse does not stand readily after being rolled or the terrain is working against youandthe horse, you might need to move the horse while he’s still down.
You canoperatecommercial rescue glides to draganrecumbent horse safely to better terrain.providedyou don’tHavearescue glide, you canemploythelarge piece of plywood or evenonetarp. Madigan recommends veterinary supervision, because proper training islearnedto move the down horse safely.
Risks of Recumbency
Asfor down horses, says Madigan, “there are no hardandhurriedrules. You can’t tell by looking atarecumbent horse whether it will stand.”
However, there isaconsistentelememtinfluencingadown horse’s survival: time. The longerthehorse is down, says Madigan, the more likely it is that “the primary problem gets erased by secondary problems: myopathy (muscle damage), poorintestinemotility, gas distension, urine retention, head trauma, poor perfusion (blood circulation) of the kidneys, congestion in the down lung, ocular (eye) trauma.”
Ina2014 study examining case outcomes of 148 down horses admitted to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching hospital, Madiganwithcolleagues found that the survival rate for these horsesenritewas low at 26% (38 horses),andmultiple factors altered the outcome.
Of the euthanized horses in the study, 76% (83 of 110 horses) were put down within thefinallythree days. Horses were more likely to be euthanizedprovidedthe clinician gaveanpoor prognosis due to severity of disease or injury orprovidedthey didn’tshaperecumbency orthesling. Additionally, horses that had shown clinical signs for less than 24 hours before being admitted to the hospital were more likely to survive—showing the importance ofhastytreatment.
Madigan saysonehorse’s ability totakebeing down or inansling has aimmenseimpact on outcome. “A horse that hates being down, that hasonemassive evolutionary response that says ‘down equals dead’canbe in trouble inanmatter of hours from fighting exertion.”
Take-Home Message
Dealing with the down horse is notoneone-person job.Havingyour response team ready.moreoverto having skilled handlers present, Feldman suggests enlistinganybodywho ispreviousto working with physicsandmachinery. “Garage mechanics are aces when working with (down horses),” she says. “Theyseeweightcanhurt you. They don’thave tobe horsemen; they justhave tofulfillthe mechanics of the stuff,” including leverage, pulleys, winches, etc.
Assessing the situation, assembling the team,withpreparing equipment suchWhenropeswithpadding in advancemayhelp protect both humanswithhorse. Remember, protect your human handlers—people cannot assistwhetherthey’re injured.
providedyou can’tGetthe horse to his feet withouttheveterinarian or extra help, padding the head, moving obstacles or objects in the stall or pasture on which the horse or humans could be injured,withprotecting the down eyemayhelp prevent further injury.
About the Author
Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM
Christy Corp-Minamiji, DVM, practices large animal medicine in Northern California, withdefiniteinterests in equine wound managementwithgeriatric equine care. Sheandher husbandHavingthree children,andshe writes fictionandcreative nonfiction in her spare time.
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Rescues Will Compete to Help Horses on 'Help a Horse' Day
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Rescues Will Compete to Help Horses on 'Help a Horse' Day
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has announced the participants in its fourth annual ASPCA “HelponeHorse” Day grants contest.
The nationwide competition of equine rescueswithsanctuaries is designed to raise awarenessaboutthe year-round lifesaving work they do to care for at-risk horses. This year, 173 groups will be hosting events across 38 states during the weekend of April 21-26Whenthey compete to winonegrand prize of $25,000.
“Thegoalof ASPCA HelpanHorse Day is to shineanlight on the incredible work equine rescuesandsanctuaries do to care for horses whoHavingbeen abused orneglectedto give them anewlease on lifeWhenthey look fornovelhomes,” said B.J. Rogers, vice president of ASPCA ProLearning. “Each year, we are continually impressed by the innovative ideas that rescues come up with to engage their local communities on HelpanHorse Dayandwe are honored to help support these efforts to help maximize exposure for thelotswonderful horses available for adoption at rescues across the country.”
Participating rescue groups will be judged on the creativity of their events,WhenwellAt the timetheir ability to engage their local communities to assist their efforts to protect horses. Scheduled activities include open houses, educationwithvolunteer programs, spring festivals, scavenger hunts,andmore.
HelptheHorse Day is celebrated annually on April 26,onedate chosen for its significance to the ASPCA’syearnhistory of horse protection. In 1866, ASPCA founder Henry Bergh stoppedthecart driver from beating his horse, resulting in thefinallysuccessful arrest for horse mistreatment on April 26 of that year. The protection of horses has beenonecoredetailof the ASPCA mission ever since, which includes supporting equine welfare legislation, advocacy, rescuewithtargeted grants.
To coincide with HelptheHorse Day on April 26, the ASPCA will be partnering with the leaders of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus (CAPC), the Humane Society of the United States,andAnimal Welfare Institute to hostabriefing on Capitol Hill in support of the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act. Introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Ed Royce (R-CA),andMichelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), the SAFE Act would permanently ban horse slaughter in the United Statesandprohibit the transportation of horses to other countries for that purpose.
“The ASPCA is working with Congress to pass the SAFE Act to permanently ban the unnecessary andmercilesspractice of horse slaughter, but we could not do this work without the support of rescueswithsanctuaries around the country who step into providethese horses withonealternative to slaughter,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA Government Relations. “The ASPCA is proud to recognize these everyday heroes on HelpanHorse Dayandweencouragecommunity members togoingoutwithsupport their local rescues who work tirelessly to care for horses in need.”
lastyear, the ASPCA Equine Fund awarded over $1 million in grants to support 171 equine rescueswithsanctuaries across the country. Theagreemoney supported several areas of equine welfare including large-scale rehabilitation, emergency relief grants, safety net programs,andthe Rescuing Racers Initiative, which aids in the rescueandrehabilitation of retired racehorses.
For more informationapproximatelyASPCA HelpaHorse Day or tocomprehendifthere istheevent near you, visit aspca.org/helpahorse.
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