Thousands of horse trailers travel the over
crowded highways every year. With the
implementation of safety inspections of horse trailers in various
jurisdictions, much has been accomplished to make trailering safer from a
mechanical standpoint. However, equine
behaviour, human error and weather conditions are still major risk factors when
transporting your horse.
Unlike other cartage, the horse trailer
carries live, fragile, and sometimes volatile cargo. As such, when an accident happens,
specialized urgent care and action must be taken.
All first aid courses adhere to a universal
set of guidelines that also apply in horse trailer accidents. Should you have a horse trailering accident
or come upon the scene of one, an appropriate plan of action should be
followed.
- Survey the accident scene before attempting a rescue, making the environment as safe as possible to work in.
- Investigate to determine if there are any injuries to humans first.
- Catch any loose horses and restrain them to prevent additional accidents.
- Assess the horses involved as to size, position in the trailer and injuries.
- Those horses that appear trapped must be extracted from the trailer only after careful, but swift plans are developed for an imminent rescue.
All horses are individuals and the
temperament of the entrapped horse must also be considered. Excitable horses will most likely mutilate
themselves if they are not restrained.
In these instances, one must make critical decisions based on the
following criteria:
- Assess the injuries of the horses involved.
- Can the horse be saved to continue a reasonable quality of life?
Humane destruction by a veterinarian at the
scene of the accident may be necessary.
A panicked horse can create a more perilous situation in the trailer
making it more dangerous for other horses and their rescuers.
Prior to the attempted extraction of the
horse(s), you will require the following:
- A strong nylon halter[1] (not leather) that fits properly, along with a heavy duty cotton rope that will extend out of the trailer by an additional ten feet.
- A supply of compression bandages to control major bleeding.
- Cotton balls to plug the horse’s ears to aid in sedation and minimize the noise of cutting tools.
Before
attempting to extract a horse from trailer, you should ensure that the vehicles
are secure. You accomplish this by stabilizing them through cribbing or
supporting them. You may require
professional help. In the event of a
rollover, trained assistants will be required.
In some cases, “the jaws of life” used by firefighters, might be
employed to open the roof or a side of a trailer to rescue the horse. Removing a horse from a damaged trailer will
require some brute force. A thousand
pound or better, immobilized horse is a daunting task to move.
One should exercise great care when working
with the accident victim horse, bearing in mind the following safety
conditions.
·
Work with a down horse from a
safe position behind the horse’s back.
·
Reach over the horse’s body to
reposition its legs. Remember, a horse
can reach three feet in front of their shoulders and can kick three and a half
feet behind them with their hind feet!
·
If you have assistance, have
someone hold the horse’s head down by kneeling on the neck behind the
head. The handler can soothe the horse
while the legs are being prepared.
·
A cotton loop should be made
and placed around the pasterns, manoeuvring the leg so it can be folded tight
into the body.
·
Once all four legs are freed
and folded tight into the body, the horse is ready to be rolled into position
for removal from the trailer.
Depending on the
position of the horse, you can either pull forward using the halter and
grasping the mane while tugging on a girth rope, or you can pull backwards by
using a tail rope or a lifting harness.
Packing for a
Disaster
Before planning your next trip with your
horse, you might want to outfit your trailer with items that would be
beneficial in aiding and handling an injured horse. You may also want to consider an on-road
equine first aid kit for the travelling horse.
Suggested items for your kit may include:
- Wound dressing
- Disposable rubber gloves
- Bandage scissors
- Six six-inch gauze pads
- Roll of absorbent cotton
- 20 cc disposable syringe
- Roll of electrical tape
- Thermometer
- Stethoscope
- Flashlight
- Watch with a second hand for vitals monitoring
- Non-steroid eye ointment
- First aid book for horses
- Leg wraps and cotton quilts
- Antiseptic scrub
- Electrolytes (powder, liquid or paste)
- Large body sponge and large clean bath towel
- Water pail and fresh water from your farm
- Extra feed
- Shoe puller[2]
- Spare halter (nylon) and lead
- Soft cotton rope (25 foot length)
- Head bumper helmet
- Shipping boots and bell boots
- Pocket knife
- Horse sheet and cooler
Be Prepared
With your first aid supplies organized for
your trailer, you should also consider your towing vehicle and emergency repair
kit. All of these items are easily
attainable at your local automotive store.
- Current road map, cell phone with extra battery and possibly “On Star” capability if your vehicle is equipped with it.
- GPS systems are a popular navigational tool but are not perfect and may not be appropriate for use when trailering with livestock.
- Spare fuses for your truck.
- Motor oil and water.
- Flashlight, traffic safety vest, minimum of six flares.
- First aid kit for humans.
- Safety boots and work gloves (two pair).
- Duct tape and electrical tape.
- Shovel, broom, bucket and garbage bags.
- Fire extinguisher.
- Assorted hand tools, spare nuts and bolts.
- Wheel wrenches to fit both your vehicle and trailer.
- Load binder with a ratchet.[3]
- Three to four blocks of 4”x4” size wood approximately one foot in length to stabilize your vehicle at trailer height.
- Up-to-date service centre guide.
- Inflated spare tire for both truck and trailer and hydraulic jack.
- One can of penetrating oil for loosening nuts.
- Blanket, matches, candle, rain slicker and cap
- Spare fan belt.
- Extra working light.
- Spare keys.
For those that sit behind the wheel of a
towing vehicle, you should educate yourself in the basic use of many of the
above listed items. Women in particular
may find many of these items foreign.
Local educational facilities may offer an introductory mechanic’s course
that may prove very beneficial. Take a
first aid course for humans and learn how to monitor and assess the vitals of
the horse.
[1] Leather halters are recommended for shipping, but in the event of
an accident, you will need a halter strong enough to support the weight and
struggle of a frantic horse.
[2] Shoe puller can be obtained through a farrier supply store.
[3] Load Binder with ratchet, also referred to as a “come along” can be
purchased at any automotive supply store.
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