Safer Horse Rescues

Horse Owners

In an Emergency

1. Dial 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service. Never try to rescue a horse yourself. Says Anton Phillips, Animal Rescue Specialist, "We see too many cases of members of the public trying to free a trapped horse and ending up needing to be rescued themselves. The time we spend rescuing the human increases the chances that the condition of the horse will get worse - sometimes with tragic consequences."
2. Call your vet. As well as checking the condition of the horse, a vet can administer sedation to calm it down. Even a usually placid horse is likely to kick out in a stressful situation and won’t find the arrival of the emergency services reassuring. If your vet can’t attend, the fire and rescue service will contact a vet from BEVA’s Directory of Equine Practices - many of whom are trained in rescue and emergency medicine.
3. Keep calm. Horses respond to human anxiety. You may think your presence is comforting, but unless you are completely calm, you might inadvertently stress your horse even more.
4. Calm your horse. Try to keep the area around the accident as quiet and peaceful as possible. Food is a good natural tranquilliser. Be aware that even if your horse appears calm, for example if it’s been sedated or is simply exhausted from trying to free itself, once the rescue starts and it senses freedom, it may thrash about and cause injury.
5. Let the emergency services do their job. "Animal rescues need to follow procedures for everyone’s safety", says Anton Phillips. "We want to give your horse the best possible chance to be rescued without sustaining further injury, so it’s important not to rush in." The Incident Commander at the scene will need to stand back for a few moments to assess the situation: making sure the fire fighters have an escape route, clearing the area of anything that might hamper the rescue, such as brambles and other debris, checking overhead cables in the event a crane is brought in to lift the horse, and discussing sedation options with the vet. All this takes time, but is essential preparation to avoid problems later.