GUIDANCE on what to do if a horse becomes distressed is being given by the fire service to equine owners.
Jim Green, animal rescue specialist for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘Fire service animal rescue teams regularly attend incidents involving equine transportation on UK roads.
‘These incidents differ greatly from regular road traffic collisions involving humans as generally, further injury does not occur after the collision.
‘However, when things go wrong with horses, there is a significant chance of members of the public placing themselves in immense danger attempting to resolve the situation.’
Advice is being given on what to do if this happens, after a 51-year-old man from Lancashire died, and his wife were seriously injured, while trying to help a distressed horse in a trailer.
The following advice has been given:
· Make sure no one enters a restricted space, such as a horse box, to help the animal.
· Do not open doors or ramps as the horse may see it as an escape route.
· Keep yourself calm in the situation, as this will calm the horse down.
· Call the fire service, ask for the animal rescue team, and describe the situation and location.
· Call your vet or an equine vet.
· Give the attending animal rescue team leader all the information they need to make the right decisions.
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