DownHorse



4. Care of the Down Horse; National Disaster Planning; Equine Rescue & Emergency Medical Procedures, Dr.John Madigan Dr. Madigan explained that horse owners should contact their vet immediately upon noticing a horse down. As prey animals it is against their nature to lie down for prolonged periods. The only reason a horse will remain down is grave illness or injury. It is ALWAYS serious and the owner should not delay in getting veterinary help. Disclaimer: this information is based on notes taken by Irene Deem at the Emergency Preparedness and Large Animal Rescue Symposium. This information does not represent medical advise given by UC Davis or any of the UC Davis staff. This information is provided to encourage equestrians to support UC Davis in its various programs for horses and is not intended as medical advise. Moving the Down Horse, VMTH Rescue Team

This writing presents only a cursory look at this complex subject, and is presented here to motivate and inspire horsemen to be aware of resources available to them for their own use. We hope you will help support these programs or contribute to the program in your area. Dr. Gallupo, Dr. Ferraro and Dr. Madigan expressed their gratitude for their sponsors who have supported their research and clinic projects, and we hope all AHANC members and stallion owners will feel proud of their contributions. Dr. Madigan spoke twice during the symposium and a brief synopsis is presented here. Each of us as a horse owner has been or knows some one who has been desperate for help and received it from UC Davis. We hope all of our readers will consider supporting the fund raisers that make this program possible. New Projects: One of the problems in surgery and in rescue is the confused mental state of the horse coming out of anesthesia and the danger of injury from struggling. Here is a new containment device being developed, based on the children's entertainment games with boxes of balls which diffuse the weight and comfortable support a moving creature.



"What a couple of guys with power tools can do on a week end" - below are successful slings and tripod developed at the center.


The Anderson sling is used in the operating room and the recovery room as well as in rescue.This sling was paid for by the 2003 AHANC Stallion Auction. Special thanks to our stallion owners andthose who purchased breedings. We will be reporting our 2004 project, Melanoma Research lead by Dr. Theon, in these pages shortly. This material will also be presented in the Summer 2004 issue of HOOF BEATS, the AHANC Newsletter.



The new sling has fewer straps, is less costly and is appropriate for lifting down horses.



Battery operated winch

Dr. Madigan spoke on Equine Rescue & Emergency Medical Procedures, and Care of the Down Horse and National Disaster Planning. The VMTH Rescue Team performed demonstrations of removing down horses from corrals with narrow gates, a typical problem facing them. They demonstrated the use of the new, simpler sling, a battery operated winch, plastic skids, and the use of tripods for lifting a horse. The leading causes of equine death are collapsed barns drowning dehydration electrocution fencing failures Horse owners are asked to consider this list and evaluate their property to insure their structures and fencing as well has horse care practices are optimal to prevent these situations. THE DOWN HORSE Equipment used by Team: Anderson or smaller sling Battery Operated Winch Skids Tripod Dr. Madigan explained that horse owners should contact their vet immediately upon noticing a horse down. As prey animals it is against their nature to lie down for prolonged periods. The only reason a horse will remain down is grave illness or injury. It is never not serious. In building barns or planning corrals and fences, consideration should be given to removing the down horse. Wide doorways are an asset, as are corrals that can be taken apart to ease removal of the down horse. The Anderson Sling is an invaluable tool in the Down Horse scenario, and if your local veterinarian or horse ambulance does not have one, your horse club might consider a fund raiser to purchase this equipment. A second sling which is easier to put on and less expensive is now available through the Center for Equine Health. The UC Davis VMTH Rescue Team also has a batter operated winch which is very useful in moving ill or injured "down" horses into the trailer.


Here is the new sling which has fewer straps and is therefore easier to put on, used with the battery operated winch and tripod to lift the down horse.



The Anderson sling was designed with airlift rescue in mind, has more straps, is more difficult to put on and costs more.



Here is the model horse in the down position. Note the narrow gate. An option is to take the corral apart. Note: the rescue team is careful to stay on the dorsal side of the horse to avoid getting kicked. One member sits on the horse's neck to prevent it from rolling over and kicking the team. Another member has slipped a rope around the hind legs to further prevent kicking and injury. SAFETY OF THE TEAM is the first priority. Even in sedated animals, care must be taken to avoid accidents. The use of sedation must be made by the vet due to the fact that horses in shock or who have suffered blood loss may suffer loss of adequate blood pressure. Xylazine disinhibition effects result in aggessive behavior - another concern in the rescue and down horse scenario.



A harness for pulling is put on the down horse, the hobbled feet are drawn up close to the belly so he will fit through the gate. A plastic skid is put into place so the horse can be pulled using the battery operated winch and guided into the trailer. A series of skids make a pathway.



The horse model still did not fit through the gates, so the whole side was opened up. This is an advantage of this type of corral.





If this were your horse you would now be very grateful that your rescue team had the equipment, training and expertise to safely load your very sick horse.
Tripod Dr. Madigan admitted when he first developed this idea he used one of his family's horses. The horse didn't much care for the tripod and took off with it. Madigan has never lived this down! The tripod is used with the modified Anderson sling and the winch to get the down horse up. Notice the positions of the Rescue Team in the photo below. One member holds his knee on the horse's neck; the others work on the top side of the horse - avoiding the sudden kick of the hooves. Notice the horse's feet are hobbled - the rescue team's first priority is their own personal safety. Dr. Madigan cautioned that training with a model such as this is much easier and safer and continously cautioned his students to watch their positions. In the crush of an emergency, it's practicing good safety habits that save you, and good training starts with proper safety precautions.




It is important to get the horse up to prevent worsening of his condition. If space permits the tripod can accomplish this.



The slings are so comfortable that horses will fall asleep in them.



The down horse sometimes doesn't make it and it is always a sad thing for both the veterinarian and the horse owner. However, calling the vet sooner rather than later does improve the odds, and the owner can have a clear conscience that he did his best for the animal even if the outcome is negative. Dr. Madigan spoke about the social benefits of rescue work, saying that almost anyone will help. On one rescue on the American river, a prison crew assisted in hoisting a fallen horse. The fellowship and spirit of altruisim that are part of equine rescue are very rewarding in their own right.

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