Emergency!

fuzznut · Post by **fuzznut** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:18 pm

Our club ran our field trial this past weekend and we had two situations arise that forced us to call an ambulance! And of course all this happen at 3 pm on Sunday!!!!

One older gentleman came to run his puppy, and while heading to the breakaway he fell and could not get up. Several participants finally were able to get him up and back to his car and he seemed fine. A bit later he went down again, and we called 911. He stayed in the hospital for several days, (he had a pacemaker), but is now home and apparently ok. His wife who accompanied him to the event, was handicapped herself and didn't drive. Their puppy was untrained and it took 4 of us to catch him and get him into their car! They both went to the hospital, so it was up to our committee to babysit dog and car till their kids could get up to NJ from MD to take care of Mom, dog and car.

The ambulance had barely pulled out of the driveway to the grounds, when another handler was tossed off his horse and injured badly. This time one of his clients had a Land Rover which he drove out to the field and they were able to transport him to a hospital.. but we had already called 911. Thank goodness field trialers are a great bunch, and everyone rallied to take care of their horses, dogs and equipment till he, or someone could get back to the grounds to take care of them. Luckily for him, it was only a dislocated elbow (ouch!!) and not the compound fracture we originally thought it was.

The moral to this story.... make sure your club has their emergency plan in full view and near a telephone. Make sure someone there has a cell phone and knows where they are and how to give directions to a 911 operator! Make sure there are folks on your committee that can hang around to take care of things on Sunday if the need arises!

It was a crazy hour or two, scared the heck out of all of us! Thank goodness everyone is pretty much ok, banged up, but walking!

I know when I was putting the paperwork together for this trial, I was moaning about all the "stuff" AKC makes us send them. But, now I realize the importance of the emergency plan, and because I had to look it all up, it was sort of fresh in my mind.

Stay safe out there....!
Bernee Brawn
Del Val GWPC

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:53 pm

There were three or four people thrown from their horses at the GSPCA Nationals this year and injured. Two were pros, and they were both injured seriously, with broken ribs. Stuff happens out there in open country, sometimes it is the horse too. You bet you need to be ready.

fuzznut · Post by **fuzznut** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:04 pm

At the last trial of the season in the spring, I got tossed off an Icelandic pony and fractured my pelvis! Thank goodness it was a very short critter, don't know what would have happened if it was a regular sized beast.

I was a decent horseperson before that happened, now if the dang thing snorts, I panic! Doesn't make for a confident handler when running dogs. More concerned on returning alive, then what the dog is doing. Old age sucks!

Dang horses.... I'm beginning to think golf carts are the way to run a dog! Nice comfy bench seat, roof over your head, radio......ahhhhhh.

AHGSP · Post by **AHGSP** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:40 pm

I see you have met "Long Gone Ozzy". Sending you a PM.

Karen · Post by **Karen** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:48 pm

I'm beginning to think golf carts are the way to run a dog!

I certainly hope golf carts are safer than ATV's as I'm 2 1/2 months into what looks like is going to be a year-long recovery (according to my physical therapist) from a tumble off an ATV and a badly broken arm that needed a rod inserted through my shoulder to stabilize it.

I actually lifted a broomstick with a 2 pound weight on it today and was proud of myself! I have no idea how the saddle is getting on my horse next season!

Flush · Post by **Flush** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:58 pm

fuzznut,

Sorry to hear about your trial difficulties and also your tussle with the icelandic pony. I hope everyone recovers.

I actually have an Icelandic myself. Could you tell me who you know that trials with an Icelandic and in what state? I thought I would be the only one to ever ride an Icelandic at a field trial. I would love to talk to another Icelandic/field trialer.

A will check my PMs if you would prefer to keep it private.

Thanks!
-Flush

Casper · Post by **Casper** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:29 pm

What a bummer. It seams that at each trial I have gone to someone has come of a horse. The last two had injuries involved. A Judge had a horse rear over on top of him bruising his ribs real good and last week at a trial a lady was riding her new horse in gallery when something happened and she came off dislocating her shoulder.