How To Rescue a Cast Horse Single-Handed
Finding that your horse has become cast in his stable is a frightening situation for any horse owner. But what on earth do you do if you're on your own with no immediate help on hand? Here is some advice on how to rescue your cast horse.
Assess the situation
First of all, don't panic and rush into your horse's stable. You could startle your horse and cause him to panic, risking injury both to him and to you. Assess his predicament from outside first and consider the following:
- If the horse's bed is undisturbed and he looks bright and alert, he's probably just settled down for a doze, rolled, and wedged himself against the wall.
- If the horse is unresponsive, look carefully to see if he is breathing. If the horse is breathing but unconscious, he may have hit his head or suffered some sort of brain injury.
- Sometimes horses manage to break limbs in the process of trying to right themselves. Look for any signs that a leg might be fractured, such as swelling, visible bone through the horse's skin, and abnormally shaped limbs.
- If the horse is sweating and trembling, he may have colic.
If your horse is showing signs that he is ill or injured, call out an emergency equine vet before attempting to get the horse on his feet. You vet may advise you to leave the horse where he is, until he has been assessed professionally.
How to right your cast horse
If all seems well and it's just the case that your horse is stuck, put on your hard hat and a pair of gloves, and proceed as follows:
- Enter the stable quietly and talk reassuringly to your horse. Secure the yard, but leave the stable door open, in case you need to make a hasty exit.
- Stand behind the horse's back, so that you are well away from his legs. Place your coat or a folded blanket under the horse's head to protect his eye as he rolls over.
- Take two lunge lines and loop them carefully around the horse's legs that are nearest to the ground. Make sure that you position the lines above the horse's fetlocks to protect his joints.
- Standing well away from the horse, take up a steady tension on the lunge lines and begin to pull firmly and smoothly, so that the horse begins to roll over towards you. Once the horse feels his balance beginning to shift away from the wall, he will begin to struggle and try to get up.
- Drop the lunge lines, and get out of the way until the horse is upright.
Prevention
You can take steps to prevent your horse from becoming cast.
- try housing him in a bigger stable
- an anti-cast roller will prevent the horse from rolling over
- build banks of bedding around the stable walls and corners to stop your horse from getting too close to the walls
In conclusion
You can help right a cast horse single-handed by following the guidelines above. Always put your own safety first, and if you are concerned that your horse has hurt himself, call out an equine vet.