Rescue Response

The condition in which horses arrive at the Sanctuary is incredibly diverse. Some are horrifically skinny and very weak; others have severely overgrown hooves; many come in riddled with lice and worms; some have had no human contact or have been beaten or abused and are simply terrified of people.

It’s essential that our rescue response delivers consistent, effective and efficient recovery outcomes for at-risk horses regardless of the rescue scenario.

We do this using evidence-based protocols and practice guidelines which achieve consistently high-quality recovery outcomes for horses in our care.

Importance of effective response procedures

Every rescue and recovery situation is unique. By establishing a clear set of guidelines and protocols, we efficiently and effectively respond to the needs of at-risk horses, maximising positive outcomes for the horse, minimising the risk of injury to rescue staff and ensuring a swift and coordinated response in times of crisis.
We use a system of checklists to streamline the rescue, recovery, rehabilitation and reherding (Four Dimensions) process to build in efficiencies and remove biases from the diagnostic and treatment processes.
Considerable evidence supports the utility of evidence‐based protocols in clinical practice in treating injured, starved and sick horses.
Our protocols are is used to dramatically reduce errors and increase discipline to achieve consistently high-quality recovery outcomes.
Embedded within the Sanctuary’s operating model and its structures of governance, capabilities & processes, technology and functions are pre-defined rescue and recovery protocols which increase predictability and control of the rescue and recovery services we offer, ensure speed and competence and lower rescue costs through efficiency.

4 Dimensions Response Model

All horses that come to the Sanctuary are managed through four dimensions of the recovery process using evidence-based protocols.

Rescue

From the time a horse is reported by the community or authorities as at-risk, our rescue procedures play a pivotal role in assessing, safeguarding and minimising further risk to the horse.

Once the horse is assessed “at risk”, using the enquiry response protocol, a step-by-step rescue plan involving analysis of potential risks and vulnerabilities, authorities required, is devised and agreed. The rescue volunteers, the practitioners involved collecting the horse, are involved in the development of the plan. We often consult with local, state and authorised charities in the development of the plan.

Rescue operations require the right tools and equipment. The Medical Triage Protocol – Phase 1 is used to make a preliminary assessment of the horse’s medical condition and its fitness for travel. If the horse can be collected, the Transport Safety Protocol is activated and the rescue volunteers walk through the steps to retrieve and transport the horse.

At prescribed points in the process, our vets, who are trained on these protocols, agree to a “go” or “no-go” position.

Recovery

Recovery happens in emergency care barn stalls which offer a calm, controlled and quiet space for horses to recover.

This is where most of the medical treatment and interventions happen. Horses are digitally monitored 24/7 to ensure physical and thermal comfort, hydration, concurrent disease, nutritional intake progress recorded in accordance with the observation schedule.

Any deviation from the expected recovery schedule is referred immediately to vet staff.

Recovery in the stable
Being stabled for long periods of time can rapidly increase levels of boredom and isolation for the recovering horse. Even when it’s essential to their recovery, if left unstimulated a horse’s health can decline and they can develop behavioural issues due to stress and isolation.

We try to get horses out into the recovery paddock, and interacting with our two gentle and caring “nanny” geldings”, as soon as practical.

The sooner injured or ill horses have contact with other horses and engage in epimeletic behavior, which includes self and mutual grooming, we see dramatically improved speeds and rates of recovery.

Rehabilitation

Our rehabilitation model is not so much a specific clinical approach as it is a conceptual framework, promoting a horse-centred rather than an illness-centered perspective.

Rehabilitation assessments

The rehabilitation assessment provides evidence to support the development of a rehabilitation plan, tailored to the horse’s current state of health and where it must be to be eligible foe for re-herding.

Rehabilitation paddock
As soon as the vet deems the recovering horse is well enough to move around the recovery paddock, we move them out into the fresh air and sunshine.

We use a dedicated recovery paddock adjacent to the Naturaliste Clinic and two friendly, experienced “nanny” geldings to allow recovering horses to move more freely and engage in allogrooming (grooming between conspecifics).

It also gives us the opportunity to observe the horse moving ad libitum and to detect any other mobility problems not observed before.

Contact speeds recovery
Research tells us that positive tactile contact is recognised as an effective tool for triggering positive affective states (Burgdorf and Panksepp, 2006).

Release

Once the vets determine the rescued horse is completely recovered, they are “re-herded” at the Naturaliste Ethology Program.

This is a really joyous part of horse rescue, but as important as the other three dimensions, nonetheless.

Recovered horses are taken to Ethology where, when a new member is introduced to the group, the social structure of the established herds is changed which leads to an initial period of increased conflict and potential for aggression.

Horses are sociable animals which have evolved to live in stable, tight-knit groups called herds so even though the disruption is a normal and natural process, it carries with it the risk of injury and can be stressful for the introduced horse.

Space and conflict over resources such as forage and water are two of the biggest considerations when we introduce a new horse to an established herd so we use a re-herding protocol.

Protocols used
1. Enquiry response protocol
2. Rescue plan protocol
3. Medical triage protocol
4. Transport safety protocol
5. Induction protocol
6. Treatment Cost Calculator

Protocols used
1. Medical triage protocol
2. Transport safety protocol
3. Treatment Cost Calculator

Protocols used
1. Medical triage protocol
2. Treatment Cost Calculator
3. Treatment protocol

Protocols
1. Transport safety protocol
2. Reherding protocol

Training of Sanctuary vets, staff and volunteers

Implementing the 4 dimension response procedures necessitates adequate training and preparedness.
The Sanctuary provides thorough training sessions to equip vets, staff and volunteers with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to handle rescue scenarios with competence.
Having well-defined and thoroughly practiced response procedures in place equips our response resources with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to handle each rescue response with competence.
Properly trained volunteers and staff operating within our 4 dimensions can execute rescue, recovery, rehabilitation and re-herding plans, triage horses through those processes and coordinate rescue efforts precisely and productively.
Regular drills and simulations allow rescue responders to familiarise themselves with response protocols, improving their ability to respond effectively under stressful conditions.

Evidence-based protocols

We use evidence-based protocols, manuals and checklists to help rescue practitioners to efficiently deliver triage, treatment and release therapies to at-risk horses.
This means when horses are rescued and brought to the Sanctuary, they are triaged by Sanctuary staff and the veterinary team to determine a treatment plan using standard diagnostic and triage procedures.
Trained volunteers follow the treatment plan which results in consistent and more precise care for the rescued horses and decreased treatment cost.
Our veterinary team signs off on on the assessments within the protocols to ensure horses are correctly diagnosed and treated.
By providing a clear and consistent framework for carrying out tasks, the protocol improves diagnostic and treatment accuracy, reduces the risk of mistakes or oversights, ameliorates ambiguity and complexity and reduces cost through increased efficiency and competence.
Most animal welfare charities run on the dedication and generosity of volunteers who often give generously of their free time. Our protocols clearly set out minimum steps necessary in a process and are explicit – they offer volunteers the ability to be highly competent with minimal training my just following the protocol.
The Total Cost of Treatment calculator forms the basis of a more extensive process by which veterinary and other vet care professionals determine the order of priority for providing treatment. It informs and determines a step-by-step treatment plan based on the outcomes of the triage process.

Does rescuing and treating horses sound appealing? Rescuing abused horses can be pretty confronting at times, but it isn’t all grim. It’s enormously rewarding to see sick, injured and frightened animals regain health and return to happiness. Please join us!

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Total Cost of Treatment calculator

Determining the total cost of recovery when sponsoring an abused or injured horse is a complex process, rife with follow-on and hidden factors that must be taken into account.

The Total Cost Calculator (TCC) provides the Sanctuary and the horse sponsor with accurate, real-time estimates of healthcare and feed costs for every horse we rescue:

The calculator determines the cost of all services, medications, interventions, feed and transport involved in rescuing and nursing an individual horse back to health.
We find the TCC provides highly accurate estimates for triage, treatment, ongoing veterinary assessments, farrier, dentistry, medication, feed costs (including forage, specialist feeds and supplements) and transportation.
We set the sponsorship cost based on TCC outputs and fix the cost so that sponsors understand exactly how much it costs to recover an injured or ill horse.
It’s important that sponsors know exactly how much a horse costs to treat BEFORE they sign up.
The cost calculator was developed with leading universities and specialist vets from around the globe.

Why protocols are so important

While most rescue centres and sanctuaries are set-up by people who have the expertise and resources needed to properly care for and rehabilitate these animals, no-one is checking that this is the case.
The horses we rescue are often at their most vulnerable. Our procedures, protocols and checklists have been developed with some of the world’s leading equine universities to ensure that highly repeatable and predictable processes deliver a consistent standard of care to every single horse and by every person who handles the horse.
Having well-documented response procedures demonstrates a commitment to safety and preparedness. It instills trust and confidence among employees, volunteers and Sanctuary supporters, who can be assured that we take the well-being of both the horses in our care and volunteer and staff seriously.
We advocate that, in time, a national auditing body be established to conduct site visits for all horse rescue charities to help ensure organisations meet minimum welfare requirements.
To this end, as we establish, test and perfect our 4 Dimension Protocols, we are offering these in turn-key format to rescues and sanctuaries around the world free of charge.
Our intent is to offer these wonderful dedicated organisations, which strive to offer vulnerable horses a better future, clear guidance on how to use leading-practice to better assist horses to recover.

The Sanctuary has a number of fantastically interesting and rewarding volunteer positions available and many more coming up. The range is varied and we provide full training in whatever interests you. Please visit our volunteer portal and see what appeals to you. You can also register for future opportunities. Please join us!

LEARN MORE!

Rescue Response

Importance of effective response procedures

4 Dimensions Response Model

Rescue

Recovery

Rehabilitation

Release

Training of Sanctuary vets, staff and volunteers

Evidence-based protocols

Total Cost of Treatment calculator

Why protocols are so important

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