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  Discussion on MARES "STAMPEDE" OVER PADDOCK FENCE
Author Message
Member:
mitma

Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2007 - 3:07 pm:

Dear HA Friends,
I need your advice... I was gone last evening and had some of my "usual" Pony Club girls doing the evening feeding and care for my horses... I returned at about 10PM and as I passed by the barn and pasture areas (horses all out free choice 24/7), I observed all five horses grazing in the moonlight and everything seemed normal. About 30 minutes later, I received a call from one of the Pony Club girls who said there had been some problems during the feeding. Basically, all five horses had been in one of my two small, adjoining paddock areas (with some to be put in stalls or the run-in area for feeding and some to remain in the paddocks for feeding). One of the girls turned on a water sprinkler (yes, which I had asked them to do before they left) in the adjacent small pasture (it just got seeded several weeks ago and we've had such a DrOught in VA)... the hissing and crackling noise created by the sprinkler startled the horses and three of them in the paddock nearest the pasture BOLTED!!!! Though the gate between this paddock and another field was open, only one of the horses ran out through the gate; the other two (yes, two of my ex-PMU mares) ran directly into/over the fenceline. Now, I was not present during this chaotic moment, but it was described to me as follows: the first mare, being very close to the fence, perhaps only a stride away, attempted to jump, but got hung up on the top rail and "somersaulted" over, landing apparently on her front "knees" and chest; the second mare, being several strides away, bolted and cleared this 4 1/2 ft fence easily, but almost/may have?? partially "landed" on the first mare; then they were both up and running to the far end of the pasture... So, after hearing about this event, I immediately went out, caught all of the horses and examined them as best as I could in the dark (no electricity in the barn area yet). All seemed O.K. and, in particular, the two mares who went over the fence did not have any obvious swelling/cuts/heat in any of their limbs... FORTUNATELY, I HAVE "HORSE SAFE" CENTAUR-HTP "RAIL" FENCING and each "rail" is made of three high tensile wires coated with a polymer material which then has the appearance of a board rail.
This morning at first light, I was able to see everyone and, again, all seemed fine, except... The first mare to go over the fence, who got hung up on the top rail, is slightly lame, but she also has navicular synDrOme and the lameness seems unchanged from her "regular" lameness; she also has some tenderness over an area that looks like a "ropeburn" located at the junction between her right rear flank and right hind limb (probably where she was "dangling" for a second on the top rail). Today, she has eaten normally and has produced manure... and, I have already started desensitizing all the horses to the noise made by the sprinkler. Does anyone think I'm missing anything??? Should I be concerned about any internal injuries??? Thanks for your help!
Martha
Member:
canter

Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2007 - 7:06 pm:

That's a tough call, Martha, if the mare appears OK. If it was me, though, after such a fall and then the possibility of another horse landing on the first, I'd have the vet out. If nothing else but to put your mind at rest.

I hope they are all OK!!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 30, 2007 - 6:37 am:

Though there is nothing in your post that raises alarm there is not really enough information to judge. The best way to assess for internal injuries Martha is by monitoring the horses vital signs for more see Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Taking Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration.
DrO
Member:
terrilyn

Posted on Monday, Jul 30, 2007 - 10:44 am:

I'd have your "second" mare put immediately into training as a jumper...

Martha, just kidding...I knew that was your post when I saw the title!!! So sorry that they went through such a chaotic moment, but very happy to know they're all seemingly none the worse for wear! What an incredible scenario! Glad they're ok!
Member:
mitma

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 - 2:20 pm:

Update: The vet has been out to see this mare (unfortunately, she is also the topic of another thread regarding, now, recurrent bacterial conjunctivitis and has been seen several times by our vet in the past six weeks!!!) Prior to his visit, I did assess her heart rate and respiratory rate and they were normal... Again, I can only be grateful for the Centaur HTP fencing!!!
Martha
(and BTW, Terri, I really do think that Jip will make an eventing horse!!!!)
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