LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE SKULL SESSION
September 9th

  WHAT'S THAT ON YOUR HEAD?

This problem is based on a real scenario and is presented for a "Skull Session" discussion in the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Facebook Group.

Location

Nevada, in a small town on the wild horse range where horses live in and roam through town.

Date and Time

Early spring, mid afternoon.

Incident Details

A call is received that a young wild horse is running around town with a wire "cage" stuck over his head. It turns out that stuck his head into small round screen type plant cage designed to keep rabbits from eating a young plant. Obviously it didn't keep horses out. Unfortunately the cage got tangled in the horse's mane and when the youngster raised his head, the cage came with him.

Here's the problem. This is a wild horse. He now can't eat or drink. The cage is tangled and won't come off. The cage is now starting to split and is cutting into the edges of the horse's eyes. The conventional "Four Ts" (trap, transport, tranquilize and treat) will not work in this situation since any mistake could result in a blind horse.

The horse was spotted hanging out with a small band of other wild horses.

Skull Session Questions

  1. What are your priorities?

  2. What are the safety issues?

  3. What resources do you need?

  4. Describe your action plan.

Please post your answers to the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue group.

Skull Session rules.

Please post your answers independently of the answers posted by others. Please also recognize that there can be varying perceptions as to what these scenarios involve since these problems are being solved using limited information. The values of these sessions include the various approaches the participants may suggest based on their varying perceptions of the problem, so it's not a matter of someone being right and someone being wrong.

Please read, think, and post your answers to the TLAER Facebook group based on your perception of the problem presented.

Continue to How the Incident was Resolved

Go to Skull Session Index

Return to the Strike Team LRTC Page

This material is intended for the use of the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER) Facebook Group. TLAER is a trademark of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue.