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A horse that has lain down too close to a fence or wall and gotten into a position from which he can’t get up is referred to as a “cast” horse. Cast horses sometimes panic and struggle, while others simply lie in the cast position until help arrives. If the horse is struggling so much that you can’t get near him, don’t approach; call a veterinarian. If there is plenty of space in which to work and the horse seems calm, you may be able to help.

Keep in mind that working around a cast horse puts helpful humans in danger of severe injury. Use extreme caution working around a cast horse, especially indoors. The moment the horse moves, quickly get out of the stall and well away from him.

In order to stand up, a horse needs to be able to get his front legs out in front of him and his hind legs under him. If he has rolled up against a fence or stall wall, rolling him over may be all that is needed. Speaking to the horse and moving slowly, try to throw a loop of soft rope around the hind fetlock furthest from the handler and pull to roll the horse over. Don’t tie the rope, as you want it to drop away as soon as the horse starts to rise.

Horses that have simply gotten into an awkward position but don’t need to be rolled over may need to be moved only a few inches to allow them to scramble up. If this is the case, a handler may be able to grab the horse’s tail and slide his haunches just enough to give him room to flex his hind legs and get up. An alternative is to pull his shoulders away from the wall by looping a soft lead rope around his neck behind the ears and jaw where thick muscle masses protect the trachea from injury. To avoid damaging the horse’s spine, don’t pull on a lead shank attached to a halter.

At best, you won’t be able to move the horse more than a few inches with these methods. If your efforts don’t allow the horse to get up, call a veterinarian for assistance. Don’t attempt to use extreme force, and don’t try to pull the horse with a vehicle. While human safety is the prime concern, you also don’t want to injure the horse by applying too much pressure at the wrong angle.

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