[events & activities]
Workshop Outline
Horse SA 31 Oct 2014
(abridged version online)
http://www.horsesa.asn.au/home/welfa
re/horse-welfare-officers/
Reasons to appoint a HWO
• Grow the good “name” of your
horse activity
Continuous improvement in:
Horse welfare
Volunteer management
(workplace safety)
Rider/driver/handler safety Image: Australian Horse Industry Council
PEOPLE
Horse collapses from heat exhaustion (competition, travel)
Horse dies from heart attack heavy lift or manoeuvre/grief
Horse goes “down” undertaking or in relation to; the competition activity, which may also involve a rider incident scene / multiple casualties
Horse gets into trouble in the float/wash bay/ non-competition areas crush injuries/narrow spaces/ slip & trip
Horse escapes the grounds and gets into life-threating trouble (e.g. car vs. horse) road related hazards/lots of “helpers”
Horse is euthanased on the event site for any number of reasons e.g. colic thrashing horse, heavy lift, potential biosecurity risks
So we don’t need a plan, training or equipment
Make the scene safe for volunteers to work in. At your activity - who “steps up” to start to control the incident?
Managing the incident involves undertaking a risk assessment which may include
- stop or divert the event/traffic/other horses
- care for & manage people (humans come first!)
- considerations for horse welfare
- restrain a loose/uncontrolled horse (s)
- manage spectators
- remove or manage hazards
PLAN the response
CONDUCT the response
DEBRIEF afterwards + records
1. Plan how the work will be undertaken (incl. risk assessment, what resources are at hand)
2. Discuss safer positioning around distressed recumbent horses
3. Establish work areas: hot zone, warm zone, cold zone & tool dump
4. Discuss human behaviour when horses are distressed (rider/owner/spectator)
5. Discuss horse behaviour when stressed/stimulated
6. Introductory skills: Encouraging a horse that is recumbent, to stay down/ emergency halter both sides of horse
Review basic equipment For a small club:
Human PPE
2 x Tarpaulins - for covering a horse & (strong) one for underneath
4 or more tarpaulins for screening
2 x 4WD straps with sewn loops
Spare strong rope
Towels
Walking cane
1 lunge rein & 1 lunge whip
Horse float
Cleaning kit (biosecurity/human health)
Review ideal equipment For a small club:
• Human PPE
• Tarpaulins or other customised cover for a deceased horse
• Rescue glide (could be venue based)
• At least one set of screens (could be venue based)
• Set large animal rescue straps
• Strop guide
• 2 pole hooks
• Security/barriers to manage spectators
• Horse ambulance
• Cleaning kit (biosecurity/human health) Photos courtesy of
http://www.equineer.com/
Handling deceased horses with dignity
1. Discuss scenarios for management of a deceased horse at a
public event. What may it mean to handle a deceased horse with
dignity?
2. Human behaviour as it may relate to a deceased horse (owner,
groom, spectator, unwanted bystanders)
3. Volunteer workplace safety considerations in relation to moving
a horse (heavy lift/drag/biosecurity)
4. Practice screening & then covering Riley (plus other uses for
tarps e.g. shading, carry horse’s head, screen injured riders)
5. Discuss the capabilities and constraints around the
club/event/volunteers abilities to manage an incident
Small horse events/activities are not likely to have an
attending veterinarian.
Often, all that volunteers can do is stabilise the
situation and wait until a veterinarian arrives, keeping
the horse calm & preparing a safe area for the horse to
“go to” afterwards
What access to a veterinarian does your event have?
Moving an injured horse: Sedation will be required, or
euthanasia, before a horse can be safety manoeuvred out
of the situation and removed from the venue.
Discussion: Club policies for the management of horses who need to be
euthanased at an event venue, moved to an equine hospital or kept on
site for an extended period. Technical support for veterinarians & safe
working environments.
This workshop plan has a focus on the horse, however, there
needs to be people allocated to care for and manage other people
at the scene
• Provide medical help for injured riders, officials, spectators
• Manage uninjured emotional riders, strappers, family
• Spectator control
Most clubs will by now have appointed “Member Protection
Officers” (Human Welfare Officers) or an equivalent whose role it
is to manage members requirements and be a part of the club or
events practices in relation to child protection, grievance
procedures etc. The new national WHS laws cover volunteer
roles, including physical & psychological.
Discuss horse welfare and people management
Photos: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue
Photo: CFS SA
Practical sessions on these & related topics are available
separately if not included in primary HWO workshop
Large Animal Rescue Techniques
Sideways Skid
1. View the video/demonstration
2. Make the scene safe. Set up the zones. Allocate job roles
3. Practice a sideways skid onto a glide
4. De-brief
Drills: Assisting a cast horse. Glide drills + glide into a float. Follow veterinary instructions to secure a sedated horse onto a rescue glide for transport to an equine hospital.
Horse SA
www.horsesa.asn.au
Mob: 0402488306
http://www.horsewelfareofficer.org/
Horse Welfare Officer Network