Accidents while hunting

[JSwan]

@Painted Wings;2915787

This is why you need to teach your horse to pony or be ponied. I had to pony a horse just the other day when a hound fell off a cliff and someone had to go on foot to rescue it. I have also ponied horses who’s riders have been injured on at least two occaisions. One time it was several miles. I ponied him at the walk, trot, and even canter.

Oh my - is the hound ok?

Go the distance - I only knock certain people off their horses - unless you own a vineyard and can supply me with a fabulous Merlot - you’re pretty safe.

Yesterday we were out for hours and it was nothing but braces. It was crazy. Fox everywhere. At one point we saw the hunted fox calmly walk along the edge of a field next to woods, sit down, and actually watch the hounds - must have been for about two minutes. Then the fox got up - and I swear he flipped the hounds the bird - and vanished into the woods. Hounds were still in the middle of the field - just could not pick up the scent. Smart fox.

But Lord have mercy - that footing was greasy. We took it pretty slow. That has got to be the most dangerous footing, don’t y’all think? I hate being out when it’s like that - some areas were ok - and then WHAM - you hit a bad spot. When I got home I gave my horse a great big huge hug for taking such good care of us. He also got extra peppermints.

Glad your person didn’t suffer any lasting damage.

I was thinking I needed to brush up on my first aid skills - it’s been a long time since I attended classes.

ETA - I’ve noticed that if a person is yelling at the EMT’s to not cut their boots off, or if they keep reminding you where their tailgate contribution is located - they’re going to be ok.

[gothedistance]

I didn’t hunt today because we had some real downpours last night, and this morning I noticed my guys slipping and sliding on the horrid, greasy footing – and this just in their own pastures. Plus, my thumb was still pretty swollen and every time I tried to encourage it to bend it threw a violent tantrum of quite painful proportions.

So… since I did not want to risk my endurance pony galloping over these ground conditions, and my thumb was giving me the proverbial “thumb down” for doing anything constructive with my right hand … I stayed home.

<sigh!>

I guess there will always be another day.

Oh, and I do have to tell – while I was talking to my EMT neighbor, he told me he asked our downed whip (while they were in the ambulance) if she minded if he cut her coat off her. He said she gave him SUCH a look!!! He laughed on the phone, saying “I really don’t think she was enamored with the idea.” Of course, he didn’t tell her that his own wife foxhunts – and he well knows the street value of a good scarlet hunt coat! :lol:

[Bogie]

@wateryglen;2916500

Since the largest # of injuries are concussions. Don’t let someone get up, move around, ride back, continue hunting. Their judgement may be impaired and they don’t know how bad they are injured and unless you are skilled at neurologic assessment; it’s better to assume injury until the professionals arrive. Any klunk on the haid even with a helmet requires one to be kept quiet. Limit physical exertion as it drives up ones blood pressure and that increases pressure inside the brain and that’s a bad thing after a concussion. Remember concussions come in degrees. Like “being fat”!= there’s a little bit to a lot!! And they can “blossom” ie: an hour, many hours later the swelling occurs and they can worsen. They may not be looking impaired initially. ANY concussion is brain TISSUE damage at the cellular level. And consussions are cumulative over your lifetime. Little bits of damage make old horsepeople a little bit “odd”!!! :winkgrin: Good rule of thumb- if they have a headache=get assessed, no riding, no exertion. IF they’ve lost consciousness (got knocked out) absolutely MUST go to hospital even if it was for just a few moments.

So true! My only fall to date in the hunt field was over an in and out that was 1 1/2 strides rather than the two I was expecting. I didn’t think I’d been concussed and of course, I remounted and finished the hunt. It wasn’t until I got home and started seeing pinpricks of light dancing in front of my eyes that I realized I probably had hit my head harder than I thought.

[Ray]

[QUOTE=wateryglen;2916500]
GTD! Any klunk on the haid even with a helmet requires one to be kept quiet. … They may not be looking impaired initially. … IF they’ve lost consciousness (got knocked out) absolutely MUST go to hospital even if it was for just a few moments. [/QUOTE]

Headache OR nausea. Or not remembering what happened or not being able to identify familiar people. Won my ambulance ride with that one :sadsmile: Luckily, not too bad as concussions go, but I still have no memory of that ENTIRE day. gone. vanished.

[Mudroom]

The Eventing Association has a good brochure on how to recognize and respond to concussions:

http://www.useventing.com/resources/files/docs/Concussion-Brochure.pdf

Also, a few yers ago, Karen McKay, a member of Fairfax Hunt and an EMT, wrote an article called “Rider Down, An Emergency Medicine Guide for First Repsonders in the Hunt Field”

I can not find that it is posted on the web, but if you send me a PM with your e-mail address I will send you a scan of the article. (Thank you Karen)

[x-rab]

First Aid Kits

Because Mr. Earthto takes Plavix, I keep a very well stocked first aid kit in my truck. Needless to say it would be offered up for any injuries while I am out truck hunting. That is if my guide comes back to take me out. Hint. Hint.