Fortuitous timing was unmistakable as Gayda Errett of Balderton realized the value her recent online educational venture, participating in Equine Guelph’s new Behaviour and Safety eWorkshop.
Never would she have imagined herself applying the information learned about horse rescue less than one month earlier to her beloved 29-year-old horse, Sundance, but on May 4, Errett’s new knowledge saved the day.
It was Errett’s husband who returned from the paddock with serious News that their beautiful Clyde cross was cast in his shelter in a state of stress and exhaustion. He had lain down too close to the outside wall and thus had no room to engage his front legs to get up.
Errett immediately called their vet but he was away. The vet on call was at another emergency and would not be available for another two hours. Realizing this was too long to wait, the next call was answered by a member of the fire department. When help arrived, the firefighter’s initial plan was to pull the stocky steed upright by putting strapping around his hind legs. Errett knew this could be injurious to her horse, thanks to a video she had seen in the Behaviour and Safety short course which explained how to rescue a cast horse in a stall. She suggested they slide the webbing under his belly in order to pull him back away from the wall to give him space to get up. Much to everyone’s relief, it worked. Thanks to his successful rescue, Sundance immediately drank water, ate another helping of his morning supplements and headed to the hay feeder.
Unfortunately, Sundance was euthanized 10 days later with complications that may or may not have been caused by the incident, but it was important that Errett had the knowledge to help that day.
The next Behaviour and Safety eWorkshop will begin Sept. 9. Sign up at EquineGuelph.ca/education.
