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Whatanejit
19th Apr 2006, 09:31 AM
I thought I would do this day as a seperate thread to week 6 as it was quite eventful:o

Bank Holiday Monday.

RI was riding Cooper at 1300hrs. We asked her to school him for just 35mins as we wanted to then hack him out afterwards.

She concentrated on straightness and then lateral movements – trying to get him to move away from the leg and not just go faster. He is better moving away from the Left leg than the right at the moment.

A bit of turn on the forehand too.
http://www.clipshack.com/Clip.aspx?key=E856161A936EA276



Canter is still an effort for horse and rider at the moment and he always stops. We are going to let RI keep working on this for the meantime and we will canter him out when hacking eventually. He was a good boy.

http://www.clipshack.com/Clip.aspx?key=285C41BECD6024CA


Then Gina and her mum came along and we headed out on a hack with them.

OH had left his bike at the stable and took ages to catch up.

By the time he caught up we had gone up the track, through the scarey big field down the next bit of track, crossed the road and into the park.

We had a few stops along the way. Gina saw something in the field and wouldn’t go forward – took a lot of effort from her Mum.

Cooper just waited to see what she was up to. He was alert but forward going. Ever since we walked him in hand and let him graze in that field he just keeps looking down at the grass. He is like one of the kids being taken through Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory!

He wasn’t too keen on entering the park. The evil bright yellow flag was bothering him.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Flag.png

He eventually walked on but was beginning to feel insecure that no one was behind him. Fortunately, his daddy showed up bright red in the face with the exertion of trying to catch up on the bike. OH said hello to him gave him a pat and he was happy to move on. No whinnying yet!


On into the park and we had lots of long trots. I can really feel his trot smoothing out as he is becoming more balanced and stronger – still bouncy, though. We passed a field full of horses and he called out to them – got a bit nappy there but I pushed him on and he was a good boy.

His head was down most of the way and he was very relaxed. On the way back we had a bit of a disaster, though.

Going passed the golf course on the sand track Gina did a massive spook. We couldn’t see anything but we think it must have been the crack of a golf ball being hit because a golfer appeared on the green near us only a few minutes later. It could have been that blooming yellow flag.


Gina jumped sideways, unseated rider onto her neck, then 'corkscrewed'.

Rider slid sideways over shoulder and sort of fell under mare. This was the first time rider had fallen off Gina since she bought her 2.5 years ago.

Gina then freaked at rider on the floor and cantered off - over the top of the rider. :eek:

I witnessed rider getting two heavy boots to the torso by Gina's back feet

It all happened so quickly yet in slow motion if you know what I mean.

Poor rider was on her side making funny breathing noises - at least she was breathing! Cooper remained startled but still, OH checked out rider who asked him to catch her horse.

Once I was sure Cooper wasn’t going to leg it after Gina I dismounted. Cooper was a little upset – more so that his daddy had run off it would seem.

Gina's mum lay for a while. She was very winded and shocked as you may imagine but was speaking in full sentences.



Her kidney area had taken a huge kick and also her bottom.
Having seen the whole thing - I can't imagine what would have happened if it had been her face that was kicked. Or how severe the injuries would have been if her kidney area was not protected by the body protector.

Apparently, Gina had ran out to the road and stopped at the traffic lights.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/Trafficlights.png

All of the cars stopped realising there was an horse with no rider at the bottom of the road. She then crossed the road when she saw OH approach but he managed to catch her at the other side of the road.

Gina’s mum was more relieved that OH caught Gina than she was concerned about herself bless her.:o


It was a good 15min walk back home. OH led Gina and Gina’s mum pushed the bike as she was able to use it to lean on like a crutch. She was very sore.

We all got back to the yard in one piece.


Phew.


Lessons from today – too many to think of………..

1. Horses are v. unpredictable and never bomb proof (well I knew that anyway).
2. Always wear body protector
3. Glad Cooper is a stay with the rider sort of horse and did not gallop off after the other one (so far anyway). When I fell off him when he napped on the first night he just stayed still.
4. I assist in training others in Advanced Trauma Life Support. However, I was a bit stuck for what to do to make the environment safe if I had to do anything to treat Gina’s mum.

Firstly, OH had my phone and had just run off with it – make a mental note to carry it on me.
Secondly, when I felt it was safe to dismount and Cooper was a bit excited I would not have known what to do with him if I had had to treat Gina’s mum. :confused:
I thought about tying him to a tree with his reins but knew that was wrong. Fortunately, she just needed my words of support until she got her breath back and got up.

Mmmmmm. We hope to do le Trec when Cooper grows up a bit. Le Trec rules insist you carry twine, headcollar, leadrope and other emergency equip. If I had have had those I could have easily and safely tied up Cooper and concentrated on the rider. Mental note to do that in future. I have some lovely saddle bags for him so might try and start riding him with them on to get him used to them.

We took him back to the accident spot the next day on our own to make sure he was ok.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f270/Whatanejit/coopergolfcourse.png

Any other advice on what I should do with Cooper in the event of something like this happening again would be very much appreciated.

neen
19th Apr 2006, 10:14 AM
Goodness, W'ejit, what a day!

It's horrible when you see accidents happening and you can't do anything to stop them. Hope your friend is okay now. It's certainly made me rethink wearing my (borrowed) body protector, which I rediscovered the other day behind the tack box when I was looking for a curry comb.

I got one of these "equi-ties" (http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=1324564&CategoryID=Horse&language=en-GB) to carry with me in case of emergencies; I thought it would be quicker than fiddling about with string, but actually I haven't worked out how to undo the fastening. :o

I'd imagine ground tying would also be a useful thing to have worked on in this sort of situation too.

It would be interesting to know if there are specialist first aid / emergency procedures to implement in case of accidents involving horses which, as you say, don't exactly contribute to a safe environment for the injured.

On a more cheerful note, Cooper's looking great. On his moving away from the left leg better than the right -- Fluke does this too, and when he's just tootling along not concentrating his bum drifts gently out to the right. Just been reading Klimke's "Training of the young horse" and he describes this as the natural crookedness of the young horse and shows how to (gradually) correct it -- very interesting.

NoviceNic
19th Apr 2006, 11:25 AM
Cooper was very good not to bolt off after the loose horse. This maybe becuase he is starting to see yourself and your OH as his comfort zone. I hope your friend is ok.

HairyCob
19th Apr 2006, 12:19 PM
Oh lord, what a nightmare!

Thank goodness Cooper didn't take off, and that your friend was OK.

Ideas for coping in such cases...

ALWAYS have your mobile ON YOU.. ideally every rider should have their own, although a lot of people carry one between them- what happens if it's that persons horse who bolts off into the wide blue with them, or if that phone is crushed in a fall?

NEVER move a casualty or take a hat off. The most you should do is unclip the harness on the hat and then only if it is restricting breathing, and put them in the recovery position if necessary... if the person is concious, and not having problems breathing, let them decide when to move! (You probably know all that anyway though!)

I always carry a bit of baler twine, and usually have a coiled up lead rope attached to my saddle- useful not only for securing your horse in an emergency, but also if you need to answer a call of nature on a long hack!! Baler twine is also remarkably versatile when it comes to mending broken tack...!

ALWAYS let someone who is not with you know where you are going and what time to raise the alarm if you aren't back... but don't forget to phone them and revise that time if you discover a 'new' bridleway, and decide to extend your ride to 'explore'!

Call me over cautious, but when I used to ride HC over the hills, I carried a bit of paper with me with OS map reference numbers for the aproximate bit of the hills I was riding on... that way if I came off and needed help, I could give the emergency services a rough idea of my area rather than just 'I went up such-and-such bridleway, off such-and-such road, and I'm about ten miles (give or take five miles) over the hill bearing slightly left....!'

It's always useful to have the phone number of an obliging friend with a lorry or horsebox, and possibly the number of a commercial horse transporter in your phone too- just in case you need to get a horse/horses transported home.

Have your vet's number in there too... worst case scenario stuff, and nasty to think about, but if your horse breaks a leg out on a ride, you will want to contact someone to end his suffering asap.

Can't think of anything else off the top of my head, and sorry most of them are a bit :eek: :eek: :eek: !

Little Dolphins
19th Apr 2006, 01:08 PM
All I can say is.... AAAARRGGGGGGH!
W'jit, well done for keeping cool. How's Gina's mum today?
Sort of wish I hadn't read the posts today.....
Yes, have stopped cursing body protector for squashing boobs etc.;)

Whatanejit
19th Apr 2006, 01:16 PM
Cheers Neen re - the equitie - I havn't seen one of those before.

I also use those safety stirrups - the peacock ones so I should carry extra elastic things for those - maybe the twine would be good for those too if they break.

How would you ground tie? I've never seen that before.

Thanks re the comments on Cooper. His condition is improving a lot. He had a very dull coat and it was very scurfy when he arrived. I think he is gleaming at the moment apart from the brown staines on his white bits:o

Molassed chaff on top of his pony nuts are making him put on a bit of weight but not heating him up too much bless him.

Touch would NN I think he is seeing us as his security blanket - not sure how we are going to wean him off having one of us on the ground but one step at a time, eh.

Cheers HC. I guess the TREC rules are there for a reason. My main problem was what to do with Cooper - this huge 16.2hh horse, slightly agitated had to be kept away from the casualty yet needed to be secure or god knows how he could harm himself, other drivers or us if he got loose.

I've got the livery yard number in my phone - never thought of the vet - bit depressing but necessary.

OH and I got a map from Ordnance Survey made up for ourselves for the area.
I must mark out the route we take and work out the reference numbers. I think that is such a sensible thing to do HC and is what is recommended in all TREC training.

It was not a pleasant experience but it will make me get my act together regarding the safety issues.

Gina's mum is very sore (she is a retired lady and quite remarkably fit) but very stiff.

xx

Whatanejit
19th Apr 2006, 01:19 PM
I think we crossed posts LD.:D

No don't worry - my boy was ok but we all know things like this could happen at any time.

I thought of not posting 'till Imp had Friday over but if we can all learn to think about how to manage the worst if it happens it can result in a positive outcome.

Also, remember if you bring an umbrella with you it never rains.

Well, most of the time anyway:cool:

P.S. good thing about body protector is that you don't have to wear your shock absorber bra all of the time. They ain't going anywhere with the protector on!

Imp
19th Apr 2006, 02:44 PM
I thought of not posting 'till Imp had Friday over but if we can all learn to think about how to manage the worst if it happens it can result in a positive outcome.

I've been sitting here with my jaw in my lap :eek: My goodness, there but for the grace of [insert Deity of your choice] go I (or us all).

I'm glad you're all ok. I did have a snigger when you said horsey had run to the road and stopped at the traffic lights though - awwww :p

I've got a body protector. OH bought it for me for Christmas so guess what type I've got? The biggest, paddedest (new word, me and Domane are starting a dictionary :rolleyes: ), most organ covering one on the market. I feel like I'm wearing armor plating! I'm probably going to wear it on Friday though because it's Megs first outing and we're on the road for a bit.

I agree with you W'jit, we can all learn from these things so baling twine/BP/mobile phone all coming along too :D

Whatanejit
19th Apr 2006, 02:50 PM
Don't forget HC's satelite navigation system, a flare gun with flares and a polo mint for the dry mouths:D

xx

Little Dolphins
19th Apr 2006, 05:19 PM
And, Imp, don't forget to empty Megan's water bucket, fill it with ice, pop in the fizzy-pop and drink when you arrive home! (celebrate or cheer up, whatever!):D

HairyCob
19th Apr 2006, 07:00 PM
Don't forget HC's satelite navigation system, a flare gun with flares and a polo mint for the dry mouths:D

xx


Are you suggesting I'm over cautious W'jit?!!;) :p ;)

Forgot to mention that I also never ride out without my Barnes Buckles on, and tend to also take a full 'Casualty' style resuscitation trolley with me too;)

Imp
19th Apr 2006, 07:27 PM
Sooo, to recap then:


mobile phone
bit of bailing twine
satellite nav kit
flares and flare gun (!!)
obligatory polo mint (for me or her?)
body protector
loads of hi viz (Blackpool look out the competition's here!)
Bucket of water in the stable for return with fizz and ice in it (prefer gin though :p )
Lavendar Oil (from my other thread)
Bach Rescue Remedy (ditto)
Head Collar
Lead rope

She's only 14h1" - saddlebag recommendations for all of the above please? Looks like I'll need an Army Kit Bag :D

Can I add two more?


A walkie talkie system to keep in touch with the person on foot each and every time horse twitches or moves her ears?
Chocolate.... just because... well, you could be thrown in the middle of nowhere and need sustinance :o


W'jit/HC: where do I get a resus trolley from?

HairyCob
19th Apr 2006, 07:37 PM
Resus trolleys can be bought for the minimal sum of about £10K from your local health authority... although with it being the end of the financial year, and all NHS trust being in such dire straights, and desperate for funds, you'd probably get one cheaper... £3.50 or so I'd think;)

Chocolate is definitely needed.

Can I also suggest some incontinence pads?;) :p

Whatanejit
19th Apr 2006, 07:45 PM
Chocolate.... just because... well, you could be thrown in the middle of nowhere and need sustinance

How could I forget the chocolate!:eek:


Can I also suggest some incontinence pads?

:D :D Brilliant suggestion there HC.

Imp
19th Apr 2006, 08:01 PM
Can I also suggest some incontinence pads?

HA HAAAAAAAAAAAA :D :D :D

Could double up as a seat-saver :eek:

Imp
19th Apr 2006, 08:05 PM
Right then, W'Jit, when you write the definitive guide to hacking you have much of the basic equipment needed... you'll have to fill the gaps though and we're watching veeerrryy carefully :p

Wondering of a name for your book.... What not to wear whilst hacking? To hack or not to hack? The Hitch-Hikers Guide to Hacking?... I could go on but dinner's ready :D

fitz
20th Apr 2006, 02:11 PM
Just saw this thread... Wasnt Cooper brilliant? I'm so glad he didnt run off after the other horse, thats a really good sign.

I always carry a penknife when out hacking. I've seen horses getting tangled in electric tape, wire etc., so thats why i carry a knife. Should really have wire cutters on it though.
I'd love to get some saddlebags though, so I can carry stuff like a leadrope/headcollar.

domane
20th Apr 2006, 06:03 PM
I have a folding hoofpick key-ringed to the D-ring on the back right of my saddle.

If I am hacking out alone I will take my phone.

That's it... :eek:

Oops.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whatanejit..... What an adventure YOU had!!! Try not to dwell on what happened though .... every hack out is different and you mustn't allow it to play on your mind as you may never ever witness something like that again, so please don't worry!! In the last few hacks out that I have been on I have witnessed a mare rear up and over backwards onto a teenager then bolt off... (girl was miraculously fine with a bit of a sore knee) and another horse spooked in windy rain, threw his rider onto tarmac and bolted all the way back to his stable (thankfully not encountering any traffic on the way)... but whilst I remember these incidents, I don't allow them to play on my mind when riding as I treat each hack out as a blank canvas. I am so glad that Cooper was a sensible boy.... he's a big lad and I wouldn't fancy fighting to calm him down!!! :rolleyes: He's fantastic for such a youngster - give him a big kiss from me!!

Whatanejit
20th Apr 2006, 09:44 PM
Wondering of a name for your book.... What not to wear whilst hacking? To hack or not to hack? The Hitch-Hikers Guide to Hacking?

Oh, you've got me thinking now:D

'The Nack of the Hack'

(OH has to take credit for that one)

The knife is a good idea Fits. Wire cutters too - how many times have you seen a sheep stuck in a fence somewhere? Could come in really useful.

I'm getting a bit concerned though that I might fall really gently at some point but will end up with organ damage when I fall on top of all of the equipment I'm carrying!!!!!!!!1:eek:

A whistle is another recommended TREC rule:)

Oh yes Jane, I must get a folding hoofpick - jolly good idea and yet another TREC rule - gosh aren't they great!

I am so glad that Cooper was a sensible boy.... he's a big lad and I wouldn't fancy fighting to calm him down!!! He's fantastic for such a youngster - give him a big kiss from me!!

Cheers Jane. To be honest I love hacking so much yet am very aware of what could happen - I tend to go out on each one with a brief reflection of well if this is my last at least I will go out enjoying myself:D

I was working with my students in UCH A&E during the 7/7 bombings - just an ordinary day turned into something horrific.
A couple of years ago a huge fir tree was blown over on to our car during a gale - we narrowly missed death - we had been on a four hour ride in the mourne mountains earlier that day.
Going to work and driving seem to be just as dangerous at the moment - so hey lets have fun on my horsey and when my times up its up.

Don't get me wrong I still get nervous etc but that is how I talk myself out of my nellyousness (another word for the dictionary:) )

xx

Little Dolphins
20th Apr 2006, 09:53 PM
Don't get me wrong I still get nervous etc but that is how I talk myself out of my nellyousness (another word for the dictionary:) )

xx

Yep, it can prevent you from bottleouting, too!

domane
20th Apr 2006, 09:59 PM
"nellyousness"

"bottleouting"

*head in hands* Oh what have I started????? :eek:

Little Dolphins
20th Apr 2006, 10:05 PM
*head in hands* Oh what have I started????? :eek:[/QUOTE]

Equiverbiage- that's what!!!!!::D :D

cazrider
21st Apr 2006, 07:20 AM
W'jit... what a hack! and didn't Cooper, and you, do well? :D

Definitely food for thought. If I'd been carrying some baler twine I wouldn't havbe had the issues I had when I lost my stirrup leather on the sponsored riode the other week, and Jane, the folding hoof pick is a fab idea.. but a knife?:eek: Isn't that just asking to be stabbed if you fall off? Aha just reread Fits post.. a penknife... that makes more sense. Definitely mobile phone and body protector.

I took a drink.. the sort in a small pouch, Capri Sun I think they're called. It came in very handy when I dried up completely during the recent sponsored ride. Mind you on an excited horse when you can't take one hand off the rein....:o

And for Imp... a small, horse pullable trailer to carry all the emergency kit.;) :p NB NO jumping.

fitz
21st Apr 2006, 09:24 AM
The knife is a good idea Fits. Wire cutters too - how many times have you seen a sheep stuck in a fence somewhere? Could come in really useful.



I'm always rescueing sheep stuck on their backs as well at this time of year. Normally let Duchess loose to graze while I'm doing it, but thats fairly fraught as well. The last time it happened I had someone to hold her.

I covet a good leatherman knife, but noone ever buys girls these things:(

Whatanejit
21st Apr 2006, 09:43 AM
Someone left behind a nice swiss army knife so I may acquire that for my saddle bag load!

I've heard the leatherman's are good - we teach sometimes with SAS lads and they swear by them (no arguments with those boys!)

Then they also carry those personal sat nav whatsits - maybe they should sell those in the tack shop too.;)