Our friend, Willis Lamm, from Nevada Animal Emergency Network posted this wild horse recovery story. I am always amazed at the dedication and brilliance of this team – and other large animal emergency tactical teams. These are big, stressful jobs and these mighty volunteers always keep their cool.
The Horse and Man Foundation Group has come together to purchase several large pieces of equipment for this team. Who you gonna call?! Find a team in your area and support them!
Here is the story:
Cathy Cottrill from WHPL was in a good position to take some really good photos that illustrate how volunteers who train together can pull off an injured horse recovery in an urban area, just a few yards from a state highway.
This call, which was not unusual, illustrates why we have standard procedures and why responders from various groups who turn out together to calls need to operate from the same training background and procedures. There are usually several operations going on at the same time that need to be in synch in order to be effective and safe. In this call members from LRTC and WHPL turned out and worked together.
This incident involved a young range stallion with a significantly injured hind leg found next to the Fourth Ward School in Virginia City (NV.) That means he was just a few yards off SR-341. Our objective was to remove him for veterinary care without exacerbating his injuries. Our strategy was to load him on the street below, so we needed to prevent him from spooking and moving uphill into traffic. Some responders took up strategic positions to discourage him from moving while containment activities were being undertaken.
Everyone is in helmets (with different colors indicating their positions.) Everyone not separated from traffic by panels is wearing bright orange shirts or reflective vests. Traffic cones are placed in the roadway work zone. A Safety Officer is assigned. Everyone communicates via portable radio so we don’t have to shout and increase the energy level. (Even these injured horses can reach a point where they could react and bolt.)
Thanks to NDA and the Storey County Sheriff’s Office for helping facilitate this operation.
Additional descriptions have been posted to the various images.
Horse located in a vacant lot next to the 4th Ward School. Note: This is a wild stallion.
The Logistics Team arrived with the panel trailer, deploying panels for a catch corral. Horse is distracted eating hay.
Assembling the catch corral.
“Closing the loop”, using an old picket fence as an anchor point.
Deploying construction netting to move the horse into the catch corral.
Horse is now secured. Letting him settle a little before loading.
Using construction netting to encourage the horse to turn around and move calmly into the trailer.
Horse now in the trailer.
Delivered to LBL Equine Rescue for veterinary care and rehab,
Close-up of the injury.
EMERGENCY APRIL BUCKET FUND FOR GRANNYPONY! – the 35+ blind, perfectly mannered little pony – left at the meat auction by her family! Click here for story
We more than HALFWAY there! She needs time to heal so she can have a thorough dental, she needs lots of supplements and so much more weight!
All donations are 100% tax deductible. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! Click here to donate!
This 35+ year old granny pony was left at a meat auction to fend for herself in the huge pens with large horses.
