[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

E:horsesa@horsesa.asn.au

Mob: 0402488306

http://www.horsewelfareofficer.org/

Horse Welfare Officer Network