Safety around large animals
 

A guy from New York got thrown by a cow and is paralyzed. Apparently went to Spain and got into a crowded ring with 8 cows, some event that goes along with the running of the Bulls. I guess he thought cows are harmless.

Just reminds me of all the accidents I have witnessed around large animals. All to own horses please be careful. Guard is always up. Animals 5 times your mass may not mean to do a roll while you are in the stall, but it happens. Got to be careful. Sorry for the diversion, vivid memories, stay safe.

reminds me of when I was given my first concussion when riding alone--or when a yearling split my lip and almost knocked me unconsious first time he was scoped--or my cracked ribs getting kicked by my OWN horse when he was going for a fly. Horse people are notorious for being complacent around their charges...but tourists in spain are just plain stupid.

Yup Pat,
Big critters can be very dangerous, and it happens in a blink.
The guy in Spain must have been looking for it, just like the macho types that run with the bulls at Pamplona. If you look for trouble, chances are you'll find it.
There's a good article at Thoroughbred Times today, written by a vet. It's called "cow kickers". Worth reading.
Just my experience, but no matter how careful you are, things happen very fast. Besides getting stepped on and thrown quite a few times, I've been plenty lucky. The worst was a "gentle" Shetland pony that I crossed paths with when I was a kid. I won't get into the whole story..I'll just say that we came to an "understanding". When the girls came to ride a few days later, you'd never believe that he was a reformed bronco. He was as gentle as a puppy...but I kept myself ready for any change. Dangerous stuff.
DTS

I just try and keep myself out of situations where I dont get crushed against something in tight quarters. As far as out in the open riding, I leave that to my wife. I dont need a leg up cause I dont get up.

LOL,
Read the "cow kicker" article, it's pretty good.

As far as "riding in the open"...can't count the times I've ducked tree limbs or had one try to scrape me on a tree trunk.

"Be careful"...good words Pat. Also, wear a helmet. and KEEP YOUR HEELS DOWN!!!

I've been around horses for 30 years and have broken ribs, wrists and received multiple scrapes and abrasions, not to mention bites too numerous to count. The worst injury though was during a horse show, I was riding my Saddlebred gelding who only knows one way...GO! We were called to walk one way around the ring and he was fretting and tossing his head badly, just as they called for the trot he flung his head back hitting me full-on in the face, I had blood running down my shirt but continued to show, we even placed rather well considering. I always tell novices who are around me to watch their heads, they are one of the most deadly aspects of the horse, as they like to swing them around and fling them back under saddle.

Reminds me of the time I was out on a leisurely hack when the horse I was riding decided he'd had enough and just started rolling. If I hadn't jumped off when I did, I'm pretty certain I might not be walking today.

Very true that big hard skull cracking up against yours. Been there done that along with the bites and of course the none to pleasant step on your foot when I was an idiot and wearing running shoes. Its the dying part when internal organs get crushed or a head smash that worries me the most.

Back before WWII, my family farm had at team of black Percherons and a team of lighter horses (for things like the hayrake, the driving of which was my mom's specialty). One day my uncle was grooming one of the Percherons when it merely shifted its weight from one hind leg to the other, pinned said uncle against the wall and cracked his pelvis.

This is exactly the kind of thing I am afraid of.

I think I've got you all beat (some of you may already know this). I've been thrown off more than 50 times, kicked, bucked, rolled over, bitten, stepped on...etc. etc...then again, I am fearless and always liked the problem horses and young horses. I have suffered from broken wrists, broken ribs, broken hips, broken nose, broken pelvis, punctured lungs, broken shoulder, and a broken right foot, nerve damage, not to mention countless broken toes, and a few broken fingers. The way I look at it is that you can get seriously hurt or die just from doing simple everyday things as driving a car or taking a misstep and falling. I am going to be feeling all of my mishaps when I get older though, and I'm sure there are a lot more mishaps with horses to come. It is all part of the game. If you love it enough, you just get back up and keep going no matter what happens.

Ouch, that sounds like that hurt. I don't like it when horses rear. That is the worst habit in the world and one of the hardest to break. There is nothing more dangerous than a horse that rears.

Punctured lungs. That is really not good. Out of all the other maladies you have mentioned... punctured lungs... very bad. You dont want your lungs full of blood.

That was like four years ago when that happened. I was on oxygen for quite a few days but my lungs weren't punctured bad enough to put a chest tube in. I hope that I never get injured again like I was that day.

reminds me of my friend Kat who owns a perch-hanovarian cross, he stumbled coming out of his stall one day and came down hard on her foot breaking numerous bones and severing a tendon in her foot. He meant no harm he is just so huge...and she was wearing street shoes rather than boots (not brilliant).