What would you do if a horse got cast when you were on your own??

Would probably ring for help, whilst stood in the stable assessing whether there was anything I could do on my own....
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I have had it happen. Luckily there was a girl on the next door yard but she was up the fields.
I leant on his neck so he would thrash about and rang her so she could come and help me.
If i knew i could get hold of someone quickly to help me i would ring them but not leave the horse.
If i wasnt going to be able to get hold of someone I would call who ever could get there quickest and then work out if i was going to be able to do it own my own or have to keep him calm.
Keeping your self calm is the most important.
 
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Can i ask, what does leaning on the neck do?

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I was always told it was the best, quickest and safest way to keep the horse calm and stop it thrashing about.
 
When my girly was just over 12 months old she went bombing down the field after it had been raining, slipped and fell over, sliding as she went, and ended up with all 4 feet underneath the post and rail fence! It was just by chance that I had stood and watched the horses go off as I let them out - I usually would have just let them out and walked off.

Nobody was around - and I spent bloody ages wriggling her around so that I could get her legs clear from the fence. Bearing in mind that while she was only just over 12 months - she was already HUGE!!! She was such a good girl, and lay patiently on her side while I was going backwards and forwards around her trying to find the best way to move her!

She was such a brave star that day - and she didn't even panic to get up when her legs were free - just gave me time to step back so she could get up easily.

I ALWAYS watch the horses as they go off out into the field now, in case anything like this happened again. I would hate to think how long she would have been stuck like that if I hadn't seen her fall over
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x
 
Frank nearly got cast as he rolls a lot in his stable, I went in with headcollar and rope, got headcollar on him and managed to pull him round enough for him to get his legs under him. otherwise I was going for scotsmare rope technique. He was very sensible about it, just a sort of 'I'm stuck can you sort it out please mum'
 
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I've always put a rope around a leg and pulled them over. I frequently have no help so no point in waiting for someone
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ditto this!
 
Ditto Scotsmare, rope around the legs trick. Fortunately when it happened to my connie he was so calm about it, I knew there was no one around to help, noone could get there quickly so I grabbed a lunge line, managed to get it round both front and hind legs and pulled. Just a word of warning, if you have time put your hard hat on, their legs don't always go in the direction you think and he nearly caught me round the face, not his fault but not much room to jump out of the way in a stable.
 
We had a few who would get cast once in a while (despite enormous banks!) Most were good about it, and just lay there waiting for help. We had all been shown what to do, so whichever staff did morning stables could sort it out for themselves, we kept a rope in the feedroom for such an eventuality. All some needed was the banks pulling down, which gave them just enough space to get around. If I couldn't pull the horse over, I would phone / shout for help. Sitting on their neck will stop them thrashing around if they are panicing.
 
Found my youngster stuck like this a couple of months ago:
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He was quite calm, just stuck! So I gave my hubby a call - he was in the house, about 10 metres away - and asked him to give me a hand. The answer - "oh, I was just about to have tea!" (pizza in the oven). Nice to see where his priorities lie!

I'm sure Ozzy could have got himself up if he'd really tried, but I didn't want him to bash himself around or hurt his back. I've got matting to go on the wall now.

In answer to the original question, if there's anyone handy, I'd give them a shout, cos horses are flipping heavy, but it would probably be doable on your own if you were desperate!
 
The midget got himself cast just after i bought him, but as he's so small i just grabbed hold of his legs and rolled him back, for the other two though i would use the rope and pull them over/round what ever was easiest. I wouldnt wait for anyone as i've seen what damage can be caused in the time waiting, buggered the horse up for six months.
 
Ok, as a slightly numpty question, if it were to happen again, and I was on my own, where's the best (/proper?) place to put the ropes on the horse, to minimise risk of injury? As close to the body as possible to minimise stress on the legs? On the upper leg, or would that pull their legs apart, so should you go for the lower leg?
 
This has actually happened to me and tbh it was terrifying and went in a blurr - the horse in question was a huge young warmblood who had rolled, got himself trapped in the corner of his stable and not only was he upside down but he had managed to get his head into his water bucker (one of those rubber tub ones) which didn't spill over but was almost drowning him
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I tried in vain to help him and resorted to holding his nose out of the water - Called my friend for help and she turned up with her OH and between us (with ropes) we managed to get him the right way up - 2 of us got a swift kick and the poor horse got a hock injury
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But he survived and I honestly think he would've drowned had I not found him
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Kate x
 
I think how really depends on the horse, your strength (metal and physical) and the situation.
Generally the trick is to manoeuvre them so that they can get up on their own - whether they need turning over or just wiggling round a bit.
the problem comes when they've been down a while and gone a bit catatonic!

My lad has a penchant for sleeping in wagons - he travels like a saint in a trailer, but put him in a wagon and he feels the need to lie down! We know he doesn't fall as in 3 times he's done it the drivers have never felt a thing! And, he's always curled up like he's in his stable. It's obviously a definite Lie Down.

The first time he did it I was on my way hunting in a friends box as we were going visiting. We opened the ramp to see Ron's backside at floor level. my friend, the driver, went a bit panicky. Ron was perfectly calm, as was the other horse. I climbed in, over him, opened the partitions (the forward one came over his hip). the other horse was mildly amused, but stood patiently. I put my foot against Ron's and encouraged him up. He just got up calmly and walked down the ramp to my friend.

The procedure has always been something similar. Though last time I had to try to pull his head round to his side of the partition because the partition wouldn't go over his hip. I had to squash 18hh of Hanoverian baby into the corner of the wagon!

Every time it's happened Ron (and the other horses) are totally unfazed and unharmed by it, and he never does it on the way home! Which is odd... as you'd think he'd be more tired!

I spoke to the vet about it, and he reckoned it is the rhythm of the wagon is slightly hypnotic and sends him sleepy!
 
This happened to my son only last week. On his own at the yard at 12.30am & the dog started barking. (we know this means a problem outside) he went out to find the biggest horse on the yard 18hh stuck proper) He knew for sure he couldnt move him on his own & worried about getting hurt with no one about to phone an ambulance. He phoned us (40 mins drive away) to say if you can not get an answer on my mobile in 10 mins GET HELP! I was terrified. Shortly after he had got lunge lines round the front & back legs closest to the wall & pulled him over using the quad bike. No one was hurt & horse was fine but OMG they are such a worry. Pretty quick thinking though.
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Ok, as a slightly numpty question, if it were to happen again, and I was on my own, where's the best (/proper?) place to put the ropes on the horse, to minimise risk of injury? As close to the body as possible to minimise stress on the legs? On the upper leg, or would that pull their legs apart, so should you go for the lower leg?

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First off you need to stabilise the head, so they can't thrash and panic. Then slide ropes around the pasterns. Majority will come over for hind legs being roped only, some you will need to rope the forelegs too. On the count of 3 let the head go and pull, horse should help you pull him over instantly.
Always remember to put the ropes on over the body, do not walk around the legs however tricky it is.
 
Someone I know broke his back by trying to help a cast horse on his own
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I havent ever had it happen when I am totally alone, but if it did I would sit on the horse's head until I could contact someone to come and help me.
 
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Someone I know broke his back by trying to help a cast horse on his own
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I havent ever had it happen when I am totally alone, but if it did I would sit on the horse's head until I could contact someone to come and help me.

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Idiot!
Most of time I will give them 5 mins to get themselves up, as long as they aren't panicking(majority do). Daft to attempt a proper stuck job alone.
 
He wasnt really an idiot, he was trying to help his horse who was panicking dreadfully and making the situation worse by thrashing around. There was no one else around to help him and he had two choices - sit and wait for someone to turn up, by which point the horse may have twisted its gut/broken a leg, or go in and try to set it right. He chose the latter, but unfortunately got in the way when the horse was trying to right itself again
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If it were my horse, I would try to be rational, but I love her so much I would just want her to be ok. I hope my love for her wouldnt get in the way of rationality, but I fear it might
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