horse sa_south australian country shows conference 2014 presentation

The Australian Horse Welfare & Well-being Toolkit

Introducing the role of Horse Welfare Officer

Julie Fiedler, Horse SA

Grow the reputation of your horse activity

Continuous improvement in:

Horse welfare

Volunteer management (workplace safety)

Rider/driver/handler safety

Keeping your ‘social licence’ to operate

Image: Australian Horse Industry Council

Horse SA www.horsesa.asn.au SA Country Shows Conference 2014. This information is general in nature only. Seek professional advice for your own situation.

It just doesn’t happen to us

• Horse collapses from heat exhaustion (competition, travel)• Horse dies from heart attack or other medical condition• Horse goes “down” undertaking or in relation to; the

competition activity, which may also involve a rider• Horse gets into trouble in the float/wash bay/ non-

competition areas• Horse escapes the grounds and gets into life-threating trouble

(e.g. car vs. horse)• Horse is euthanased on the event site for any number of

reasons e.g. colicSo we don’t need a plan, training

or equipment Horse SA www.horsesa.asn.au SA Country Shows Conference 2014. This information is general in nature only. Seek professional advice for your own situation.

What types of incidents would your horse activity potentially need to manage?

Using a tarpaulin to assist in cooling a horse which collapsed in a float on a hot day. NSW Jan 2013. Screen dump from 10 min 45 sec mark of

Dr Rebecca Gimenez presentationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VagmZHzSrHk


Loose horseFloat overturnPhoto: Dr Rebecca Gimenez - The Horse 911

Horse & rider accident

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VagmZHzSrHk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VagmZHzSrHk


Introducing the role of

the

Horse Welfare Officer

Horse Welfare Officers• Appointed by the show committee• Works with committee to prepare event• Has a holistic overview of animals at the event• Works with competitors to provide an education

component e.g. notice boards, web links, program, PA messages

• Ideally free from other direct event duties (not tied down to the competition schedule)

• Evaluates event, shares ideas for continuous improvement

• Networks with other welfare officers• Need ongoing training and support using toolkit as a

starting point


http://www.horsewelfareofficer.org/

Horse Welfare• Competition environment e.g. heat,

competition surface, equipment• Health e.g. biosecurity, grounds entry rules • Incident response (human/equine patient)• Training & handling • Transport• Infrastructure (shade, wash down)• Deceased horses+ people• What else?


Above and below photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

An officer will consider

BiosecurityToolkit covers…..


http://www.horsesa.asn.au/home/emergency/biosecurity/

http://www.horsesa.asn.au/home/emergency/biosecurity/

Policies & proceduresExamples: Hot weather policy and/or Extreme weather policy

1. Regularly updated2. Promoted to competitors3. Available online4. Can be linked to sponsorship arrangements

(excerpt) Racing Victoria routinely measures the WBGT on racecourses on hot days and applies the following scientifically validated scale for assessing the safety of racing. i. WBGT below 28 Low risk conditions.

No special precautions are required. ii. WBGT of 28 to 33 Moderate risk conditions.

Hot weather racing procedures as documented in Section 6 of this document must be implemented. iii. WBGT greater than 33 High risk conditions.

Races should be delayed and, if there is little prospect of a cool change in the near future, the race meeting should be abandoned http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/asset/cms/Policies%20PDF/Guidelines%20for%20the%20Management%20of%20Racing%20in%20Hot%20March%2013.pdf

Horse SA www.horsesa.asn.au SA Country Shows Conference 2014. This information is general in nature only. Seek professional advice for your

own situation.

Introduction to incident management

Make the scene safe for volunteers to work in. At your activity - who “steps up” to start to control the incident?Managing the incident involves undertaking a risk assessment which may include

- stop or divert the event/traffic/other horses - care for & manage people (humans come first!) - considerations for horse welfare- restrain a loose/uncontrolled horse (s) - manage spectators - remove or manage hazards

PLAN the response (+ role of the vet) CONDUCT the response DEBRIEF afterwards + records


Avoid….

• No written plan, policies or procedures• No plan for incident response• Untrained people• Lack of, or poor equipment• Infrastructure unable to cope• No/limited veterinary support


Horse SA Horse welfare officer workshop June 2014 for Pony Club SA

Safety when helping animalspeople need to stay safe too.e.g.• Lack of understanding of horse behaviour when it is

stressed, trapped or sedated. “HAZMAT”• Confined spaces e.g. float/truck…stable!• Heights• Unstable surfaces e.g. mud• Heavy lifts – all large animals• Animals without chemical/other control• Biosecurity • Other risks, e.g. collapse of structure, spectators


Horse SA Horse welfare officer workshop Feb 2014

basic equipment For a small club:

• Human PPE

• 2 x Tarpaulins - for covering a horse & (strong) one for underneath

• 4 or more tarpaulins for screening

• 2 x 4WD straps with sewn loops

• Spare strong rope

• Towels

• Walking cane

• 1 lunge rein & 1 lunge whip

• Horse float

• Cleaning kit (biosecurity/human health)

towards idealFor a small club:

• Human PPE

• Tarpaulins or other customised cover for a deceased horse

• Rescue glide (could be venue based)

• At least one set of screens (could be venue based)

• Set large animal rescue straps

• Strop guide

• 2 pole hooks

• Security/barriers to manage spectators

• Horse ambulance

• Cleaning kit (biosecurity/human health)

Strop Guide

Rescue Glide


Kit for events

• Using empathetic verbal and non-verbal communication • Awareness that others may be distressed• Communication must be clear & concise to complete the management

of the response in a timely manner• Handling the deceased horse’s limbs, head and body carefully. All parts

of the horse to travel together• Keep the deceased horse covered with a tarpaulin, even behind the

screen• Placing personal belongings associated with the horse into a separate

vehicle • Clearing & tidying the accident scene prior to taking down the screens• Driving the horse ambulance at a sedate and considered speed, using

the same driving skills as for live horses • Maintain confidentiality at all times

Handling Deceased Horses with Dignity

Photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & RescueHorse SA www.horsesa.asn.au SA Country Shows Conference 2014. This information is general in nature only. Seek

professional advice for your own situation.

Care for & Manage People

There needs to be people allocated to care for and manage other people at the scene

• Provide medical help for injured riders, officials, spectators

• Manage uninjured emotional riders, strappers, family

• Spectator control

Most clubs will by now have appointed “Member Protection Officers” (Human Welfare Officers) or an equivalent whose role it is to manage members/competitors requirements and be a part of the assisting in relation to child protection policies, grievance procedures etc.

Remember that the new national WHS laws cover volunteer roles and also now includes physical & psychological. Photos: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

Photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue


Separate reports for people and horses. Write the report asap after the incident, and within 24 hrs. Some events will have a template form to complete.

1. Basic facts. The time, date and exact location of the incident Your name and role. Names of others who were present. Use a template form if available.

2. What happened? Keep facts to what actually did happen, not what you think might have happened. Who. What. When. How. Why.

3. Photographs: to record weather, surface conditions, hazards etc. may be added

4. Submit the report to the event organiser Photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

Incident reporting (people & horses)


Ideas for Promoting Horse Welfare at your event

• Appointment of a veterinarian (or on call for smaller events)• Appointment of a horse welfare officer• Horse ambulances, trained volunteers & equipment is

available at each event• a health declaration as part of event entry incl. vaccination

status• Regular review of rules, policies & procedures• Education opportunities for members/participants• Regularly review venue improvements (e.g. more shade)• Liaise with your local emergency service group (CFS, SES)

of any gatherings of horses & people. (provide a calendar of events to the station)

Photo: Australian Horse Industry Council Horse SA www.horsesa.asn.au SA Country Shows Conference 2014. This information is general in nature only. Seek professional advice for your own situation.

Understand capabilities of emergency services

& your event/volunteer limitations

Photo: Friends of Hampshire Fire & Rescue

http://www.komonews.com/news/25666879.html http://rspcacymru.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/horse-11.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18794841 http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2012/feb/28/horse-freed-mud-in-pictures

www.horsesa.asn.au


What can our event do?

• Share this presentation and the resources used with your colleagues• Place horse welfare onto your meeting agenda• Appoint a Horse Welfare Officer (HWO)• Start to write a plan how incidents will be managed • Arrange for volunteer/committee training in this topic area to suit

your specific focus • Visit Horse Welfare Officer Network & join Horse SA e-news http

://www.horsewelfareofficer.org/ www.horsesa.asn.au





http://www.horsesa.asn.au/

Thank you

Horse SAwww.horsesa.asn.auE:[email protected]: 0402488306

Photos from Animal Rescue Level 2 course June 2013 Horse SA

Remember to check the Horse SA website for upcoming events!


http://www.horsesa.asn.au/

horse sa_south australian country shows conference 2014 presentation

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