My young colt got cast up against the stall wall today. Fortunately once I opened the stall door, and was able to reposition his legs, he could kick off and get up without requiring further intervention. But how do you intervene if a horse is truly cast? Are there videos on what to do when this happens?
In all my years of owning horses I have never had one get cast, but I don’t use the stalls that much. I think he went to roll and just ended up too close to the wall.
Generally you find a long lead rope, or tie two together, loop it over a foot, the further leg if possible and pull horse over.
If rope slips off the leg, twist it a few times so it can hold.
Since rope is just looped loosely, one end each in your hands, it slips right off.
It doesn’t take much pull, just enough to help it flip over.
Here is a youtube video explaining how:
I would add that it is “easier” and safer if you have another person with you…
That’s a good video. “You need help”. The first thing you do is call someone else, either to come help, or to alert them that you’ve got a dangerous situation if you are alone. Someone needs to know to come looking for you if you don’t report back in.
I have flipped a lot of them to get them out of trouble, and I am 5 feet tall. You have to get the rope around the fare leg. Really, both legs. It does not give you enough leverage to get it around one leg close to you. I usually do the front legs because then I can put my foot against the withers of the horse to get a good purchase and then pull….you just have to be ready to jump out of the way. If you’re lucky you have two people : one in the back and one on the front end even better. This is the flip them over method not the pull them away from the wall method
What is the pull them away from the wall method?
A video of a cast horse being flipped:
It is basically pulling the haunches away from wall by pulling the tail or pulling shoulders away with a rope around neck - not attached to halter (read earlier article). This can get you a few inches, or a bit more so horse can get his legs in better position.
I recently attended an equine rescue course put on by the MSPCA. The instructor commented that he thought 90+% of cast horses are not truly cast and you just need to motivate them to get up by themselves. Clapping your hands, tapping them with a whip, etc.
I’ve never dealt with a cast horse personally.
The only time I ever had to do it alone, I was lucky enough to have two lunge lines available so I could stay well back from the horse.
I had one get cast up against the sliding door in their stall. So I had to step over her prone body to get in the stall once I got the door open wide enough to slip through. Then I used a lead rope around her far hind to pull her over. Fortunately, she just laid there the whole time, seemingly unconcerned with what I was doing.
I can flip one by myself but never like to do my first thing is to call for help.
I’ll grab a sweater or towel and if I can get to the horses head I’ll put some weight on his neck and drape a towel over his face to calm him.
While I have his head, someone will attach two long ropes to the far side ankles and then when we are ready we will roll them over.
I’ve had one cast up against the stall door and jammed the door so I couldn’t open it. That involved climbing the stall walls. 
Never a dull moment with horses.
I’ve done both the rope method and the two person grab-the-mane-by-the-withers-at-it’s-base and pull the shoulder away from the wall. Thankfully, my mare who cast herself would calmly wait for humans to fix the situation.
The vet’s method: Keep 2 long lengths of soft rope, cotton if available, coiled and hung in an obvious part of the barn. Advise horse persons it cannot be removed for any use other than a cast horse.
If the horse is cast with legs on one side against the wall you pull him over. Use picture 1 hitch for inspiration. Put a rope around the leg and twist it loosely several times so it will stay in place. NO KNOTS!!! You want the rope to fall off to avoid tangling around the leg whether or not it works. Put a rope around each leg farthest away, e.g. against the wall. pull both ropes at the same time so you roll the horse over., i.e. legs go over belly.
we saw it demonstrated with the only male in an audience at a clinic. He was on his back next to the wall, legs and arms up in the air. It works.
Oh, bless that horse – she was all business when she got up… Straight to the grain bin!
The reason horses get cast is that there is nothing for their feet to push against when hoofs are higher up there, why horizontal casting strips of wood help, for horses that tend to get cast.
They can push against them.
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