Because it is a safety issue. A TD can make you dismount in the warmup arena; your listening device can get stuck in your helmet and you have to unbuckle (not allowed to do mounted for safety reasons); you don’t have help and have to dismount to remove bandages or something; it is 100 degrees and you don’t want to wear your coat in the warmup so you dismount to put it on…all kinds of reasons why you might want to remount. I have had a mounting block stolen and one broken by someone at horse shows, and I have to carry my mounting block to the warmup ring separately from my horse because I have young horses and I cannot mount them at the barn at certain shows. Why not just make this a piece of required safety equipment? Why such a big deal? If they can make you dismount in the warmup arena, which they can, they should have a way for you to remount.
Sorry I wasn’t clear on what I suggested. When I said a medical practice or doctor could underwrite or sponsor the EMT, I meant pay the actual cost of having an EMT on site.
Example:
“EMT Services Sponsored by Dr. Kildare”
I am a former competition chair for our GMO, who hosted recognized events at 3 different facilities with varying EMS options. Part of my job was hiring EMS services for the show. I honestly think that an EMT is the best of expertise and cost savings.
At one facility we were able to work with a local fire station. They put the show on their calendar and guys picked up the shifts for extra money. Sometimes we got a paramedic…sometimes an EMT, but we always paid the same rate, directly to the guy on site that day. Bonus, they brought a utility fire truck and were directly tied into the county radio system. We had one guy that enjoyed horse shows and would try to get our shows first. I also always bought them coffee.
Another county offered a few contacts for retired paramedics and EMTs. These guys were great too. Happy for a sunny day outside and came with a ton of experience. They told us from the outset: we stabilize and call for transport. This is exactly what my paramedic SO says he would do if I ever come off my horse at home.
My point is: don’t discount the EMT. Some of our firehouse guys were working towards paramedic status while also working. Some of our retired guys (but maintained EMS certification) had incredible amounts of experience.
A few other benefits of having an objective EMS person:
-Even if limited in scope…can diagnose non traumatic issues such as low blood sugar, heat issues, etc
-Provides a level of authority (“Hey, lets give her some space.” or “You need to sit and drink some water”) that many people recognize.
-Follow up. We had a couple of people come off. Sometimes the EMT would come to me and ask “What stall is she in? I want to walk by her again in an hour” or I would ask them to go check on someone.
I dunno…I am a bit biased
I can’t believe that most facilities that organizers rent do not require a)insurance and b)at least an EMT on site. Regardless of whether they are required to by association rules or not.
It’s something that I never thought about when I was showing as a kid at unrated shows, but once I worked on the organizing end, would never go without.
Some shows I go to do not have an ambulance on site, but they have a fully stocked bag for the EMT, and often they bring their own bag as well. We are also not in a remote area, so when we’ve needed an ambulance, it is not more than 10-15 minutes for one to arrive. Knock on wood, we’ve only had one pretty substantial injury (rider got kicked in the abdomen while handwalking her horse and ruptured her spleen) but even that one was not substantially harmed by not having an ambulance onsite.
Good points.
If your show venue is close to EMS, and they can get an ambulance to you in 10 - 15, and back to an ER in another 15 - 20, you don’t need to have the truck on site, you just need an EMT with a well stocked bag.
However, if your show venue is 20 - 30 minutes away from EMS, AND you’re 30 minutes away from a hospital, you need the EMTs, plural, and the truck on site.
But back to the original post, which I suspect was a bizarre fishing expedition, ANY equine competition without any EMS personnel on site is 1.) not one I’ll be attending and 2.) ripe for a lawsuit when someone inevitably gets hurt and the delay in care results in a poor outcome.
Even local “Saturday night special” saddle club shows in my area have at least an EMT on the grounds, if not an ambulance and paramedic team. At $5/class entry fees and no others, if these groups can figure out how to fund or otherwise obtain medical personnel, I’m confident that those running recognized shows are not struggling to survive due to paying their EMTs.
