A presentation by Horse SA www.horsesa.asn.au

1. Horse Welfare
Officers
[Events &
Activities]
Does your horse club,
event or recreational
activity need to
recognise this role?
www.horsesa.asn.au
www.horsewelfareofficer.org
Photo: Australian Horse
Industry Council

2. Grow the good name of your club
Continuous improvement in:
 Horse welfare
 Volunteer & staff
management (workplace
safety)
 Align with other livestock &
animal industries
 Shift towards evidence
based animal welfare
practices

3. Horse Welfare
whole-of-life approach
(It’s about people too!)
Husbandry & promoting natural
behaviours of horses
After racing/sport/activity
Education
Administration: Rules,
policies, record keeping
Event
incident +
emergency
planning
Incident
management
Facility
design
Veterinary Health
Photo: University of Adelaide
Research and sharing info = new knowledge &
perhaps implement changes in practice
Photo: Mariette van den Berg
How does your activity
view it’s responsibilities?

4. Collective Responsibility
• Horse owners. Ideally each horse is uniquely
identified therefore each horse has a responsible
person. PIC numbers with PIRSA for biosecurity/
emergency. Person in charge of horse is responsible
for immediate welfare (may not be owner). Owner is
ultimately responsible.
• The event management “chain of responsibility” i.e.
how the horse moves through the venue/ course and
oversight at each critical point. Take a fresh look at
what is traditionally done. Review, adapt, update.
• Sport/activity ‘whole of life’ approach. Provide
information & education for participants, training &
participation support, along with career change or
retirement plans. Regular rule & policy reviews. Invest
in research. Facilitate change in practice.
• Society & community care of animals

5. Let’s focus on one aspect
- Incident Management
Photo: MaryAnne Leighton
Have you practiced your incident response
plan lately?

6. What sort of things can
happen?
• Horse affected by heat exhaustion (competition, travel)
• Horse dies from heart attack or other medical condition
• Horse goes “down” undertaking or in relation to; the
event or activity which may also involve a handler or
driver
• Horse gets into trouble in the float/wash bay/ off-arena
or course areas
• Horse escapes the grounds and gets into life-threating
trouble (e.g. car vs. horse)
• Horse is euthanased on the event site for any number
of reasons e.g. colic
• Possible biosecurity threat
Be aware of the plan, training &
equipment

7. When it all goes pear-shaped……….
Make the scene safe for
people to work in. Who “steps
up” to start to control the
incident?
Managing the incident involves undertaking a risk
assessment which may include:
• stop or divert the race/traffic/other horse
• care for & manage people (humans come first
• considerations for horse welfare
• restrain a loose/uncontrolled horse
• manage spectators
• remove or manage hazards
• keep the assessment ‘dynamic’ in recognition of a
changing work environment
PLAN the response
CONDUCT the response
DEBRIEF afterwards + record keeping

8. An efficiently will
managed incident
will:-
• improve horse
welfare
• provide a safer
working
environment
for people
• give your
event/activity a
professional
image
• provide a
record which
insurance &
peak bodies will
require for
claims/reports

9. Building LAR into Event Incident
Response Planning
Small gatherings of horses e.g. pony club rallies,
organised trail rides. Appointed first aid officer.
* Limited capability to manage a horse + rider
incident
 Incident response plan
 Vet on call
 Basic LAR kit
 Call in assistance
Larger gatherings of horses e.g. one day events
Paramedics on site. Emergency services briefed in
case of call out
* Ability to manage most horse + rider incidents
not requiring heavy lifts or technical extractions
 Incident response plan
 Vet in attendance
 LAR kit (s) + horse
ambulance
 Trained & practiced
response team
Larger gatherings, or smaller high risk gatherings
Paramedics trained to work with LAR team. Fully
equipped LAR trailer & heavy lift equipment
* Ability to manage most horse + rider incidents
 Incident response plan
 Vets + equine hospital on
site
 Dedicated trained Large
Animal Response team

10. Promoting Horse Welfare
• Appointment of a horse welfare officer
• Establish a horse event /activity welfare
plan (it can incorporate biosecurity,
incident response etc. in the same
document)
• Get the large animal rescue ‘kit’ together
• Train people and practice regularly
• Regular review of rules, policies &
procedures
• Education opportunities for
members/participants, share research
• Regularly review venue improvements
(e.g. more shade)
• Give good practice the ‘thumbs up’
Photo: Australian Horse Industry Council

11. Promote Professional Development
& Upskilling Opportunities

12. Horse Welfare Officer
[Events & Activities]
Awareness Workshop
9 – 11. 30 am Sat. 6 June 2015 Roseworthy
Topics: Horse welfare & well-being - society & use of animals for sport, recreation &
display - Introducing a Horse Welfare Officer - roles for a welfare officer – considerations
for event & activity organisers – Heat policy & procedure example – introduction to event
incident management – handing deceased horses with dignity- record keeping –
understanding limitations - animal welfare plans for venues
A minimum of 15 people is required to register before proceeding. Fee: $40 / Horse SA clubs & member reps free (max 2 per
club before full fee applies). Purchase tickets here (including free tickets) http://www.trybooking.com/HOVY (30c ticket fee applies)
The only
workshop of
its type in
Australia!

13. Thank you
Horse SA
www.horsesa.asn.au
E: horsesa@horsesa.asn.au
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/S
AHorse?fref=ts
Mob: 0402488306