Horse Welfare Officers

[Events & Activities]

Does your horse club, event or recreational

activity need to recognise this role?

www.horsesa.asn.au

www.horsewelfareofficer.org

Photo: Australian Horse Industry Council

Grow the good name of your club

Continuous improvement in:

Horse welfare

Volunteer & staff management (workplace safety)

Align with other livestock & animal industries

Shift towards evidence based animal welfare practices

Horse Welfarewhole-of-life approach

(It’s about people too!)

Husbandry & promoting natural behaviours of horses

After racing/sport/activity

Education

Administration: Rules, policies, record keeping

Event incident + emergency planning

Incident management

Facility design

Veterinary HealthPhoto: University of Adelaide

Research and sharing info = new knowledge & perhaps implement changes in practice Photo: Mariette van den Berg

How does your activity view it’s responsibilities?

Collective Responsibility • Horse owners. Ideally each horse is uniquely

identified therefore each horse has a responsible person. PIC numbers with PIRSA for biosecurity/ emergency. Person in charge of horse is responsible for immediate welfare (may not be owner). Owner is ultimately responsible.

• The event management “chain of responsibility” i.e. how the horse moves through the venue/ course and oversight at each critical point. Take a fresh look at what is traditionally done. Review, adapt, update.

• Sport/activity ‘whole of life’ approach. Provide information & education for participants, training & participation support, along with career change or retirement plans. Regular rule & policy reviews. Invest in research. Facilitate change in practice.

• Society & community care of animals

Let’s focus on one aspect- Incident Management

Photo: MaryAnne Leighton

Have you practiced your incident response plan lately?

What sort of things can happen?

• Horse affected by heat exhaustion (competition, travel)• Horse dies from heart attack or other medical condition• Horse goes “down” undertaking or in relation to; the event

or activity which may also involve a handler or driver• Horse gets into trouble in the float/wash bay/ off-arena or

course areas• Horse escapes the grounds and gets into life-threating

trouble (e.g. car vs. horse)• Horse is euthanased on the event site for any number of

reasons e.g. colic• Possible biosecurity threat

Be aware of the plan, training & equipment

When it all goes pear-shaped……….

Make the scene safe for people to work in. Who “steps up” to start to control the incident?Managing the incident involves undertaking a risk assessment which may include:• stop or divert the race/traffic/other horse• care for & manage people (humans come first• considerations for horse welfare• restrain a loose/uncontrolled horse• manage spectators• remove or manage hazards • keep the assessment ‘dynamic’ in recognition of a changing

work environment

PLAN the response CONDUCT the responseDEBRIEF afterwards + record keeping

An efficiently willmanaged incident will:-

• improve horse welfare

• provide a safer working environment for people

• give your event/activity a professional image

• provide a record which insurance & peak bodies will require for claims/reports

Building LAR into Event Incident Response Planning

Small gatherings of horses e.g. pony club rallies, organised trail rides. Appointed first aid officer.* Limited capability to manage a horse + rider incident

Incident response plan Vet on call Basic LAR kit Call in assistance

Larger gatherings of horses e.g. one day eventsParamedics on site. Emergency services briefed in case of call out* Ability to manage most horse + rider incidents not requiring heavy lifts or technical extractions

Incident response plan Vet in attendance LAR kit (s) + horse

ambulance Trained & practiced

response team

Larger gatherings, or smaller high risk gatheringsParamedics trained to work with LAR team. Fully equipped LAR trailer & heavy lift equipment* Ability to manage most horse + rider incidents

Incident response plan Vets + equine hospital on

site Dedicated trained Large

Animal Response team

Promoting Horse Welfare

• Appointment of a horse welfare officer• Establish a horse event /activity welfare

plan (it can incorporate biosecurity, incident response etc. in the same document)

• Get the large animal rescue ‘kit’ together• Train people and practice regularly• Regular review of rules, policies &

procedures• Education opportunities for

members/participants, share research• Regularly review venue improvements

(e.g. more shade)• Give good practice the ‘thumbs up’Photo: Australian Horse Industry Council

Promote Professional Development & Upskilling Opportunities

Horse Welfare Officer [Events & Activities]

Awareness Workshop9 – 11. 30 am Sat. 6 June 2015 Roseworthy

Topics: Horse welfare & well-being - society & use of animals for sport, recreation & display - Introducing a Horse Welfare Officer - roles for a welfare officer – considerations for event & activity organisers – Heat policy & procedure example – introduction to event

incident management – handing deceased horses with dignity- record keeping – understanding limitations - animal welfare plans for venues

A minimum of 15 people is required to register before proceeding. Fee: $40 / Horse SA clubs & member reps free (max 2 per club before full fee applies). Purchase tickets here (including free tickets) http://www.trybooking.com/HOVY (30c ticket fee applies)

The only workshop of its type in Australia!

Thank you

Horse SAwww.horsesa.asn.auE: horsesa@horsesa.asn.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAHorse?fref=ts

Mob: 0402488306