Charmin
Well-Known Member
The terrifying experience first...
Took pony schooling today at Kelsall to use their showjumps. I went to the loo, mum was faffing about around trailer, putting bridle on pony etc. Then I was walking back and I saw a big grey rear up a few boxes down, thought oh dear but nothing more about it. It wasn't until my mum started running and the woman started screaming that I realised horse hadn't got back up.
So off I ran to investigate, and found horse on it's back, front legs in the boot of the car, wedged between the trailer and the car and lying on the towing bar. It's headcollar hadn't snapped, nor the baler twine, and it was struggling to breath. My mum supported her head to relieve some pressure but the way it had fallen meant its windpipe was blocked. Thankfully someone came with a knife and cut the twine so it's head was released.
At this point horse was still lying there, it had panicked and scrabbled but was now still. We put a towel over her head and mused for a while over what to do. Eventually two men snapped the boot supports at the side so the boot could be opened wider. This meant with a lot of shoving (and a brave man reaching across and pulling the horse's forelegs out of the boot) we got the mare to a point, however she was rocking back. Thankfully she seemed to wake up and scrambled, her back end went and everyone ran clear and she was able to get herself up.
I walked her round and checked her over, there was blood on her side but this was from a cut on her lip. She was as calm as anything, just seemed a little shocked. The owner was so relieved and if you see this I hope you're okay!
Vet was called but the mare was fine, so travelled home to meet vet there. This gave a chance for any bruising to come up, and adrenaline to wear off so injuries could be seen better. The car took a battering - side wing dented where she fell, damage in the boot where she scrabbled with her front legs, lights smashed.
She was tied on a dually headcollar and I have to say I believe it's the way she fell as she did - it was on the nose connecter on one side, so as she went up it would have pulled on this side and the mare would have tried to counteract it. It's the side she fell on.
So just a little warning to all horse owners - always have a knife for emergencies, don't tie up on the nose connector of a dually and beware tying up at the front of a trailer!
There's so many what-if's with it. What if the owner had put the bridle on first (she landed on her saddle and I think it's probably saved her back), what if the boot had been closed, what if she'd started thrashing about...
A massive thank you to everyone who helped and I hope the mare and owner are safe and sound at home! Also a massive thank you to my mum who is absolutely amazing, she managed to stay calm and direct everyone whilst holding a horse's head and shoulders.
We went on to have a fantastic schooling session so it's been an eventful day, but the outcomes were all good, considering.
And for the reason I came on H&H.... does anyone know the best sites for advertising a part loan/sharer to do all the riding? Pony is a full up 14.2hh who could do anything. Showing, eventing, hunting, dressage etc. However she's only 5 and needs someone semi-comptent as she's not fully educated. But she's a star and awesome fun. So just wondering where the best place would be?
Sorry for the long one! Pringles and galaxy cookie crumble to all who got this far
Took pony schooling today at Kelsall to use their showjumps. I went to the loo, mum was faffing about around trailer, putting bridle on pony etc. Then I was walking back and I saw a big grey rear up a few boxes down, thought oh dear but nothing more about it. It wasn't until my mum started running and the woman started screaming that I realised horse hadn't got back up.
So off I ran to investigate, and found horse on it's back, front legs in the boot of the car, wedged between the trailer and the car and lying on the towing bar. It's headcollar hadn't snapped, nor the baler twine, and it was struggling to breath. My mum supported her head to relieve some pressure but the way it had fallen meant its windpipe was blocked. Thankfully someone came with a knife and cut the twine so it's head was released.
At this point horse was still lying there, it had panicked and scrabbled but was now still. We put a towel over her head and mused for a while over what to do. Eventually two men snapped the boot supports at the side so the boot could be opened wider. This meant with a lot of shoving (and a brave man reaching across and pulling the horse's forelegs out of the boot) we got the mare to a point, however she was rocking back. Thankfully she seemed to wake up and scrambled, her back end went and everyone ran clear and she was able to get herself up.
I walked her round and checked her over, there was blood on her side but this was from a cut on her lip. She was as calm as anything, just seemed a little shocked. The owner was so relieved and if you see this I hope you're okay!
Vet was called but the mare was fine, so travelled home to meet vet there. This gave a chance for any bruising to come up, and adrenaline to wear off so injuries could be seen better. The car took a battering - side wing dented where she fell, damage in the boot where she scrabbled with her front legs, lights smashed.
She was tied on a dually headcollar and I have to say I believe it's the way she fell as she did - it was on the nose connecter on one side, so as she went up it would have pulled on this side and the mare would have tried to counteract it. It's the side she fell on.
So just a little warning to all horse owners - always have a knife for emergencies, don't tie up on the nose connector of a dually and beware tying up at the front of a trailer!
There's so many what-if's with it. What if the owner had put the bridle on first (she landed on her saddle and I think it's probably saved her back), what if the boot had been closed, what if she'd started thrashing about...
A massive thank you to everyone who helped and I hope the mare and owner are safe and sound at home! Also a massive thank you to my mum who is absolutely amazing, she managed to stay calm and direct everyone whilst holding a horse's head and shoulders.
We went on to have a fantastic schooling session so it's been an eventful day, but the outcomes were all good, considering.
And for the reason I came on H&H.... does anyone know the best sites for advertising a part loan/sharer to do all the riding? Pony is a full up 14.2hh who could do anything. Showing, eventing, hunting, dressage etc. However she's only 5 and needs someone semi-comptent as she's not fully educated. But she's a star and awesome fun. So just wondering where the best place would be?
Sorry for the long one! Pringles and galaxy cookie crumble to all who got this far
