Safety related PSA

[JSwan]

Hey folks -

Sometimes your fellow hunters have to get your horse home for you. It would be really super if you left instructions in your rig. Perhaps in the tow vehicle - and in big letters write - In Case of Emergency.

Maybe leave directions to your barn, vet’s number, what field to put the horse in, contact info for caretaker/BO/BM/ trustworthy neighbor - things like that.

And then let a few folks know that you’ve got that info easily accessible.
Just in case someone has to drive your rig home, drive your rig to their place, your horse needs a vet, etc.

It’s nice to have emergency contact info on your person - but if you’re injured and taken away - it’s not helpful to those left behind holding your horse.

[stryder]

wow. This is great advice for anyone hauling alone anywhere.

[naters]

@stryder;4428511

wow. This is great advice for anyone hauling alone anywhere.

Im sure folks think I am paraniod, but when I bought my trailer, I printed all the pertinent emergency information out and taped it on to the wall of my horse trailer on the inside, with red duct tape around.

[hey101]

@stryder;4428511

wow. This is great advice for anyone hauling alone anywhere.

Ditto. Hopefully this is precautionary advice and not reactionary, first-hand advice JSwan.

Very timely as I will soon be embarking on my first season of hunting (:D) and as of yet, do not really know anyone well at all- and they certainly don’t know where I live, etc.

Thanks for the idea!

[RAyers]

USRider, in their membership kit, has a sticker that is a list of contact information including vets etc. and another sticker to place outside the trailer stating “Emergency Contact Information Inside.” I have the contact information sticker on the inside of my trailer door (it even includes where to look for pertinent information in my desk at home). I list 3 different contacts as well.

Sadly, I don’t leave directions to the barn because they all would start out with, “Get to Arvada Colorado…” And while there are really nice folks out there, I’m just not sure any want to take a 15 hour drive.

Reed

[JSwan]

[QUOTE=hey101;4428567]
Ditto. Hopefully this is precautionary advice and not reactionary, first-hand advice JSwan.
Thanks for the idea![/QUOTE]

There was an incident but I wasn’t the one injured. Folks seem to be pretty good about keeping contact info on their person - but it would be nice to leave something behind for everyone standing at your trailer wondering what to do with your horse.

Things like Road ID and other things are super. The form US Rider has available for download is fantastic, too. Someone may know where you live but not where you board your horse, and if they board too they may not be able to accommodate your horse. Just try and think of what someone might need to make sure your horse gets home and bedded down safely - and who to alert that the horse is taken care of.

Anything that can help folks get your horse home safe and sound. Family members might not know anything about horses, how to drive the rig, be flying in and not available immediately, etc.

I’d also like to see more hunters taking at least ARC basic first aid - but this past summer no one seemed interested when I asked around (again). I’ve always found that surprising considering how far most of us are from any help.

I would be happy to drive many many miles to see that RAyers’s horse was safe and sound - but he’d never get that horse back from me!!!

[LexInVA]

This message brought to you by JSwan For A Better America.

[JSwan]

[QUOTE=LexInVA;4429066]
This message brought to you by JSwan For A Better America.[/QUOTE]

Does this mean I get a Nobel Prize!?

[LexInVA]

Yes, but you’ll have to make a speech and make lofty promises to bring equality to the hunt fields and low-cost public alternatives to expensive private hunt group memberships.

[Hunter_s_Rest]

I would be ALL OVER a first aid for foxhunters course. Something simple, a couple hours, and that includes lunch and-or cocktail hour, but, seriously, my mom and I have considered this many times, how important it is to learn the most basic ‘look into the fallen rider’s eyes - if they are dilated then xxxxx, if they are rolling backwards then xxxx’ etc. I believe a nurse or EMT could do the lesson pretty easily. Maybe, JSwan, this is something to set up thru the area hunts or riding clubs during January/slow time. I’d help organize if someone else would assist.

[JSwan]

[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;4429453]
I would be ALL OVER a first aid for foxhunters course. Something simple, a couple hours, and that includes lunch and-or cocktail hour, but, seriously, my mom and I have considered this many times, how important it is to learn the most basic ‘look into the fallen rider’s eyes - if they are dilated then xxxxx, if they are rolling backwards then xxxx’ etc. I believe a nurse or EMT could do the lesson pretty easily. Maybe, JSwan, this is something to set up thru the area hunts or riding clubs during January/slow time. I’d help organize if someone else would assist.[/QUOTE]

Really??? I put out feelers for an American Red Cross course for local foxhunters and trail riders and didn’t get any response. I chose ARC because of the certifications available and they have materials the person can take home and use as a reference.

We need a facility to have a class - which is not a big deal - there are plenty to be had around here. Basic first aid and CPR. If folks were interested we could go further as a group or on our own.

I was thinking that local riding instructors, BO’s/BM’s, trail riders, foxhunters, etc. would be interested but Lordy - everyone says they are too busy. But Jan/Fed would be perfect!

Call me. I’m serious about this. I didn’t hunt this am and am home most of the day.

We can do a potluck and drinkypoos and I’ll supply the meat. I’m thinking a ham and roast beef?

ETA - just checked the classes and they also have first aid for pets, too. So if folks were interested in that they could sign up for an afternoon session or something. Lots of options.

[IFG]

[QUOTE=RAyers;4428697]
USRider, in their membership kit, has a sticker that is a list of contact information including vets etc. and another sticker to place outside the trailer stating “Emergency Contact Information Inside.” I have the contact information sticker on the inside of my trailer door (it even includes where to look for pertinent information in my desk at home). I list 3 different contacts as well.

Sadly, I don’t leave directions to the barn because they all would start out with, “Get to Arvada Colorado…” And while there are really nice folks out there, I’m just not sure any want to take a 15 hour drive.

Reed[/QUOTE]

Thanks Reed. Now I just need to open the kit. I have used the service, but never took the time to read the material. Thanks!

[whicker]

Hi, JSwan and Hunter’s Rest,

I want be part of this project, too. I will pm you. Would you please cross post this to the new disabilities forum? Lots of riders are out on trails and doing things that might surprise you. Including foxhunting…:winkgrin:

[Mach_Two]

This is great!
In addition to the "where to take my horse, what to do with him, I also suggest:
A laminated card attached to your tack, or saddle or bridle tag on your tack that has your cell phone number, in case you are separated from your horse, and your horse is out in the wild world “lost”
The average passer-by who finds a lost horse wearing tack may not say “This looks like foxhunting tack, so this horse must have gotten away from someone hunting, since it’s Saturday afternoon, and most hunts hunt on Saturday…so I’ll find out who, with the local hunt might have lost a horse, and see that they get this horse back”

It’s more like “Yeah, I seen a horse what was wearin’ one of them worthless postage stamp saddles runnin through the woods. Wisht I coulda caught it for my kids, they’s been wantin’ a horse”

[Mudroom]

about 5 years or so ago the MFHA circulated an article called “Rider Down-An Emergency Medicine Guide for First Responders in The Hunt Field”. It was written by Karen McKay, a member of Fairfax Hunt who is also a firefighter/EMT.

It is a very good article with real world, practical advice.

Here is a link to it.

http://www.virginiahorsecouncil.org/downloads/brochures/Rider-Down_Emergency-Guide.pdf

[asb_own_me]

Excellent idea about posting ICE info in your horse trailer. I have a laminated ICE sheet in my barn, but not in the trailer. It’ll be in there tomorrow!

[LexInVA]

A “First Aid for Foxhunters” seminar wouldn’t be that hard to throw together on the fly. If you (My Homeys JSwan and Miss Betsy Parker) can get a decent sized group together (maybe 20-30 folks perhaps?), it’s just a matter of coordinating with the National Capital Area Red Cross organization so they can send someone out to instruct or they can perhaps roll something out for the locals in general at the Middleburg Community Center. Unfortunately, the Loudoun County chapter is no longer offering anything due to the economy. The next Sport Safety Training (Adult and Child CPR/Automatic External Defibrilator/Sports First Aid) class is next month here in Fairfax on the 7th (Saturday) from 9 AM to 7 PM in case anyone is interested in signing up. There are plenty of restaurants nearby so you could make a social event out of it.

[Ajierene]

Lex - talk to your local Red Cross. If you or the hunt make a donation that is earmarked for education, they may be able to work something out.

Most people are not aware of how their donation effects the Red Cross, as well as which red cross. Some people donate to the ‘American Red Cross’ in DC, not realizing that it goes into the big pot at the ‘headquarters’ and never gets to the local Red Cross. This is fine if it is alright with you, but if you want to donate to your local Red Cross, you need to donate to the local office, with the name of your Local Red Cross written on the check. The ‘headquarters’ and the local Red Cross offices are not connected in a way in which the headquarters governs anything the local offices do, neither do they ever disperse money. The headquarters handles lobbying for legislation and getting the ‘big money’ for large national disasters that the local office is not equipped to handle.

The local offices work autonomously to raise funds and work with the local residents. They are not governed by any ‘higher’ organization.

Also, if you write in the memo line of your check something specific, such as ‘disaster’ or ‘education’, the Red Cross is obligated to put that money in that specific pot. If you do not, they can put it in any pot - including paying the people that work at the office, putting together benefit events or decorating the office - wherever they deem it would be best.

Also, the Red Cross relies on Volunteers to teach first aid and cpr classes, so the reason may be that they are short on volunteers, not funds - and that is something anyone can help with.

[Mudroom]

Please note at the end of her “Rider Down” article Karen McKay offers to organize clinics for riders. For those of you that are fortunate to be near her (Loudon County) I would think she would be an excellent resource.

[Bogie]

Great advice! I’m going to be putting that info in my trailer.

I usually trailer with someone, so at least there are two of us. One thing I always remember to do is tell my friend where I hid the keys!