Organisers of community events involving animals are facing increasing public scrutiny to proactively manage animal welfare, a challenged coupled with obligations to keep volunteer workers safer in the workplace. It is when an incident occurs, and there is a potential danger to people and horses, that the organisation’s policies, procedures, and training are put into the spotlight. The introduction of large animal rescue systems into existing horse incident response plans may be one way to improve outcomes for human safety and horse welfare. Large animal rescue (LAR) provides a structure for managing a team of people, including a communication system and a set of manual handling techniques, which enable a trapped, injured or deceased horse to be manoeuvred to a safer place. This book provides a tool to evaluate response capabilities where large animal rescue techniques may be utilised. Horse SA http://www.horsesa.asn.au

1. SELF-ASSESSMENT GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY EVENT
ORGANISERS: RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS
INVOLVING HORSES
A self-assessment guide to aid in the evaluation of response capabilities where large animal rescue
techniques may be utilised
Julie Fiedler
People.Horses.Culture Conference
2016

2. Organisers of community events involving animals are
facing increasing challenges related to
a) proactively manage animal welfare (social licence)
b) keep volunteer workers safe
It is when an incident occurs, and there is potential
danger to people and horses, that the organisation’s
policies, procedures and training is put into the
spotlight.
The introduction of large animal rescue systems into
existing horse incident response plans may be one way
to improve outcomes for human safety and horse
welfare.

3. Large animal rescue (LAR) provides a structure for
managing a team of people, including a
communication system and a set of manual
handling techniques, which enable a trapped,
injured or deceased horse to be manoeuvred to a
safer place.

4. Introducing LAR into horse incident response
procedures can reduce;
 damage to corporate image through ‘traditional’
methods used to handle deceased or recumbent
horses
 injury to volunteers e.g. back strain, kicks when
working on high-risk scenarios e.g. handling a
recumbent horse
 Further horse welfare issues occurring through a
poor rescue technique
 poor communication leading to confusion and
delay

5. ‘What are the basic large animal rescue techniques?’
Large animal rescue ethos considers the horse as an equine medical patient. Working largely from the safer dorsal (spine)
side of the horse, techniques have been developed to ensure a safer workplace for volunteers and to improve recovery
outcomes for the horse.

6. It is highly recommended that prior to moving the horse, a veterinary assessment is undertaken and sedation is
administered before LAR manual handling techniques are applied.

7. “We don’t get things go wrong very often”
Organising committees who issue and an invitation for
owners to bring their horses to a venue to participate in a
sport or recreation activity plan for an experience that is
underpinned by the safety and well-being of all
participants.
Imagine the feeling of shock a horse owner could
experience if their animal falls and remains recumbent in
the performance arena and no provisions were in place to
immediately screen off the scene and have the equine
patient managed by pre-nominated and trained personnel.

8. The situation where volunteers
and spectators ‘jump in’ to help
out a horse and rider involved
in an incident, regardless of a
suitable risk assessment, a lack
of protective clothing and no
planning for a safer work
procedures are fast
disappearing.
Images of the incident circulate
online for years to come,
resulting in long term damage
to the reputation of the event
and organisation.
“But we’ve always
done it that way.”

9. Assessing the capability of your horse event to respond to an incident with large animal rescue techniques
A written incident response plan to consider…
Level One:
Limited capability to respond to a
horse/ rider incident.
(Associated with lower risk activities)
Level Two:
Standard capability to respond
to a horse/rider incident.
(Associated with medium risk activities)
LAR trained veterinarian on call
First aid officer appointed
Basic LAR kit incl. screening
Awareness level training to keep the scene safe and work with emergency
services
Record where additional resources can be quickly brought in
LAR trained veterinarian on site
Paramedics on site
Intermediate LAR kit(s) incl. screens
Dedicated trained LAR response team
Horse ambulance
Level Three:
Advanced capability to respond
to a horse/rider incident.
(Associated with higher risk activities)
LAR trained veterinarian, field hospital or nearby facility
Doctor on course, human medical facilities
Incident response plan is benchmarked/ audited
Advanced LAR kit, including heavy lift
Advanced trained LAR response team
Planning considers multi-horse & multi-incidents occurring
simultaneously or within short timeframes
Images: SA SES

10. Two key people who will help improve responses to incidents involving horses
1. A vet trained in large animal rescue techniques
A LAR trained veterinarian will increase the likelihood of a
successful rescue through working as part of a multi-skilled
team, improving horse welfare outcomes and supporting a
safer working environment for people.
2. Horse welfare officers
Appointed by organisations or engaged as consultants,
horse welfare officers have the opportunity to undertake a
role which promotes horse welfare throughout the
organisational structure and at events, including during and
after any incidents

11. When it all goes pear-shaped
Managing a deceased horse
A horse that dies unexpectedly or is euthanized at
an event venue provides a unique set of welfare,
logistical and administrative challenges which, if
mishandled, could potentially risk damage to the
reputation of the organisation.
Foremost, there is a ‘social’ or public, expectation
that a deceased horse will be managed with dignity,
and in a calm, efficient manner.
Event managers may have the assumption that
because ‘experienced’ horse personnel are on the
grounds, that the ‘right thing’ will be done.
This is not a plan

12. Screens and Screening
The benefits of using screens include:
Horse welfare outcomes are improved by the use of screens through
reducing visual stimuli, which in turn calms the horse, minimizing the
opportunity for further injury to occur to the horse or humans.
Personnel attending the horse have a level of privacy in which to plan and
undertake tasks without intrusive photographs, inappropriate verbal
instructions from spectators or intrusion by unauthorised individuals.
Screens reduce the potential for psychological stress to be experienced by
spectators
The psychological health and well-being of all people in the workplace
delineated by screens must be incorporated within organisational written
incident plans, training programs and de-briefing sessions.
Screening can be used for any level of people and/or horse incident
Images: www.stuartcanvas.co.uk

13. First steps to introducing large animal rescue at
your club event
After completing the self-assessment earlier, the organising
committee may decide to start out to achieve the first level
status. The areas to get started on are;
 writing down a plan and resource requirements
 identifying a local veterinarian with large animal rescue
training
 procuring equipment required, keeping in mind the
capability of the club
 building awareness level skills and knowledge amongst
club members and volunteers through training

14. However real progress will be limited…The ‘To Do’ List
There are currently no dedicated Units of Competence
Or
Basic Large Animal Rescue skills clearly written into
existing units of competency
+ need to formally add LAR to the Public Service
Training Package (Emergency Services)
In wider uses, LAR training can also be applied to
• Job roles involving animal welfare investigation
• Loading & unloading livestock for export, transport
• Handling large animals in sale yards, abattoirs
Industry investment: There is opportunity for
development of sports specific LAR knowledge, skills
and equipment for contextualized application e.g.
Racing, eventing, endurance.
Top: MaryAnne Leighton Equine Emergency Rescue
Bottom: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

15. Top & centre:
University of
Adelaide
Bottom:
Hampshire Fire
& Rescue
Horse SA
www.horsesa.asn.au
E: horsesa@horsesa.asn.au
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‘SELF-ASSESSMENT GUIDE FOR
COMMUNITY EVENT ORGANISERS:
RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS
INVOLVING HORSES’
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