Horse injured in Inaugural parade

[DairyQueen2049]

Glad to see the horse is going to be ok. However, had it been a Rebublican inauguration, PETA would have been all over this. Kind of like how the press kept their biased mouths shut regarding the cost of the show.

*cough* TROLL *cough*

[Bayou Roux]

*cough* TROLL *cough*

I was wondering if this would be an appropriate use of the word "Asshat"? I love the word, but am just never sure where to use it...

I'm so glad Mouse is okay...what an experience...

[Frank B]

Here's a report from The Horse magazine without the Bravo Sierra of the HSUS propaganda release.

[lovemyoldguy]

Here's a story on wtop.com - this is the DC area's all-news station. There's an amazing picture of Mouse with his foot still stuck in the truck's grill, poor thing:

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1581771

[Fergs]

Here's a story on wtop.com - this is the DC area's all-news station. There's an amazing picture of Mouse with his foot still stuck in the truck's grill, poor thing:

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1581771

WOW!! That picture is terrifying. Mouse rocks for being so good while they worked to get him free. I'm so glad he's alright!

[midkniggit]

WOW!! That picture is terrifying. Mouse rocks for being so good while they worked to get him free. I'm so glad he's alright!

The whole situation was terrifying! SOLA is the unit I was with. Unfortunately, my own horse had a cough and couldn't go, so I went along anyway to help on the ground.

The news articles have all kind of inaccuracies going on. He was not hit by the truck - he backed into it. I was walking along near Deb and Mouse on the way to the line-up area, when he spooked, went backwards, and got his hind leg hooked between the truck and the winch. At that point he panicked and went over. I got on his neck to keep him down until the vet got there. The vet and the Days End Rescue folks were really fantastic, as were a number of the military staff who assisted with muscle. I can't say enough good things about the emergency network in place for the parade. The HSUS people, despite what they say on their site, pretty much stood around watching and filming.

We are all very very glad that poor Mouse is ok. I'm honestly surprised he wasn't injured worse than he was, considering the accident.

[caffeinated]

The HSUS people, despite what they say on their site, pretty much stood around watching and filming.

Heh. Why am I not surprised?

[sidesaddle5]

I've had time to check out some of the news reports and read a few of the posts here... Not all, though, so if I'm repeating what's already been posted, apologies.

Some of you may have seen the news reports of an injured horse "hit by a
truck" and stuck there "for two hours" (with HSUS taking all the credit for
saving the horse's life, which is, of course, bull****--HSUS was in no way
involved; our Kate Mitchell, who held Mouse from thrashing, reported that they simply stood and watched). Here's what happened, since it was one of our unit's horses, and
happened right beside me:

Deb and Mouse were right ahead of us as we were catching up with the rest of
the group. I didn't see what spooked him (we know there was a vehicle door opened on the left, and a red carriage with two quiet horses for the Tuskegee Airmen to ride in, on the right), but he was right beside Cricket
when it happened (God bless Cricket, she may look for silly things to enjoy
a jolly spook but when the chips are down she knows when to hold still...)
Mouse began to run backwards, wiping Leporello's and Cricket's noses,
literally bounced a good 5' forward off the front of a parked truck the
first time, then scrambled backward again, hit it a second time, and either
bucked or kicked out, which was how his left hind dropped into the winch
frame on the front of the truck. He struggled to get free for several
seconds, and finally fell over on his left side with the leg still in the
frame. Deb must have rolled free. Mouse did the classic "shock" reaction
and lay still momentarily, I bellowed several times for someone to sit on
his head to hold him down so he couldn't thrash and try to get up--it was
one of our on-foot people, Kate Mitchell, who did so, until the vet got there to knock him out.

I didn't have a watch on, but he was definitely NOT stuck there for a couple
of hours. The Army did a magnificent job of getting tools there to unbolt
the winch rig and ease it down without causing further damage to Mouse's leg--I'm guessing maybe more like half an hour to 45 minutes,
though to all of us I KNOW it seemed to take forever. They had the horse
ambulance there, with ability to slide him on, but waited for Mouse to come
to on his own, after the leg had been bandaged. He was able to walk onto the trailer, was taken for X-rays,
and they found nothing broken, all he ended up needing was 6 stitches
(although I'm sure he's very sore and bruised!) Deb, the rider, was OK, and
even the saddle (one of mine!) ended up with no more than a couple of
scuffs, a strap which had to be cut, and a lost balance girth (probably now
in one of the thousands of bags of trash on the Mall...) Mouse is reported today to have no damage to tendons, some additional road-rash, but is recovering and mending quite satisfactorily.

And by the way, for anyone who may have had a panicky feeling about that
euthanasia form we all have to sign, this does go to show that they do not
have any intent to put a horse down. Their reaction to Mouse definitely
showed they will do everything they can to rescue instead.

There have been comments made about "a horse with issues about carriages" shouldn't have been allowed to participate, or even that horses shouldn't be in parades at all--that was PETA/HSUS, I believe... I had not previously heard that Mouse had any such issues, but I do know he's done many parades. It's possible that having a horse and rider who don't know each other well may not be the best idea (Mouse had been lent to rider Deb Fuller), but Deb is supposed to be a rider with some years of experience. Possibly Mouse didn't have quite the faith in her, possibly she may have been bounced off balance with his initial reaction and inadvertently hit his mouth... Who knows. Accidents do happen, and this one was horrifying but, in a sense, one of the curves that life sometimes throws. We can't live very happily in padded rooms (or stalls).

I *can* say that I was so proud of all who were part of our unit--the helpfulness, the generosity, the unity. Horses and riders (along with walkers, drivers, and back-up crews) did magnificently!

Rhonda Watts Hettinger

Sidesaddle Hall of Famer
Five-time US National Sidesaddle Champion
SSA A Instructor, Panel Judge (R)
ARIA Level III Instructor (ss, reining, riding to hounds)

American Sidesaddle Association
www.americansidesaddleassociation.org
The Side Saddle Source
www.sidesaddlesource.com

[Katybell]

I was wondering if this would be an appropriate use of the word "Asshat"? I love the word, but am just never sure where to use it...

I'm so glad Mouse is okay...what an experience...

I too love that word and feel that it can be used almost anywhere with complete confidence

I'm so happy that Mouse and his rider are ok! Reading the articles brought tears to my eyes. Jingling for a very speedy recovery!!

[Glimmerglass]

Here's a story on wtop.com - this is the DC area's all-news station.
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1581771

Hmmmm

"Things were looking dire for Mouse. I did not think he would survive," said Scotlund Haisley, senior director of emergency services for the Humane Society of the United States,

[Mouse] is fine. He is home in his barn on the Eastern Shore. But his parade souvenir is stitches and a bandaged rear leg.

I think Mr. Haisley shouldn't be so reckless concerning the condition of an animal especially at such a high position in any organization. It erodes all future descriptions that he may provide. I mean if was ready to pronounce the horse almost dead what would you think if he later says on another matter: "those dogs were living in squalor"? Do you think that it really is so bad or just embellished for dramatics?

Save the "Like OMG that horse was so dead" stuff for 10-yr old girls

[Bluey]

Glad to see the horse is going to be ok. However, had it been a Rebublican inauguration, PETA would have been all over this. Kind of like how the press kept their biased mouths shut regarding the cost of the show.

PETA did comment:

---"An Appaloosa parade horse named Mouse was struck by a truck prior to Tuesday’s inaugural parade in Washington. Members of the Humane Society of the United States were on hand to provide assistance in the case of animal-related emergencies, and those responding to the horse-truck accident reported that the horse “was lying on the ground with his hindquarters suspended in the air and his rear leg caught in the front grill.”

The horse was transported by ambulance to the Prince George’s County Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Md. Mouse was expected to recover from his injuries.

PETA, naturally, seized upon the incident to promote its agenda by issuing the following statement:

“It’s a shame that on a day when our nation is full of hope, Mouse was severely injured in a preventable accident. Horses are easily frightened and have no place amidst traffic and throngs of people. Subjecting these sensitive animals to the chaos of the inauguration is highly stressful, and as witnessed today, dangerous for them and for onlookers. We wish Mouse a speedy recovery and hope the Inaugural Committee will leave all animals out of future ceremonies."---

[JSwan]

The HSUS people, despite what they say on their site, pretty much stood around watching and filming.

Typical. Press whores; getting to be worse than PETA.

But I bet they didn't stand around when the donation checks rolled in after the press release went out. None of which will go to Days End (an EXCELLENT organization) or to help pay for vet bills.


Bluey - I just read your post. Fu**ing amazing. Both of those organizations need to have their tax exempt status yanked and their leaders ridden out of town on a rail. Bet they're sorry the poor horse didn't die - then they could have really milked it. Of course - had THEY been involved your darn tootin' Mouse would be dead.

Fu**ing morons.

[Glimmerglass]

Just for amusement see this LA Times blog on the incident - whoa!

Parade horse injured on the way to inauguration festivities

..... horses are very easily spooked and should not be in these types of crowded events where there is alot of activity/noise. That goes for all animals. These animals don't want to do this... they want to be out grazing in a field where they belong. When are people going to wake up and stop using animals for entertainment purposes. Then when something bad happens, they will analyze it to death wondering how it occurred.

Ah the PeTA fan

[spinfour]

If anything, I think this entire episode shows that IF you have a well thought out crisis plan and have properly trained personnel ready to act, that you CAN have horses in parades and other events. They are animals and can be unpredictable at times, but something that could have been deadly for Mouse, ended up being fairly minor. Thanks to the people involved! IF PETA really cared about animals, they would push for laws requiring an animal ambulance and trained personnel at events that horses are at, not stopping the horses from being involved!

[FillySire]

*cough* TROLL *cough*

I ain't no TROLL. Asshat yes, TROLL no. Sorry about politicizing this thread with the PETA comment, but it looks like those roaches see the inaugural parade as something political as well. However, it is a shame PETA wants to ban horses from future inaugural parades especially given the fact that America would not be the country it is today without the horse.

[Sea Shell]

Mouse

i am a member of the SOLA group. Mouse is fine. He has a few stitches, but other than that, is oksy. He got spooked by a carriage that was passing by, back into a vehicle and kicked out at it. His leg got wedged between the wench on the car and the bumper. I got his info from the rider herself

[Sea Shell]

Mouse

i am a member of the SOLA group. Mouse is fine. He has a few stitches, but other than that, is oksy. He got spooked by a carriage that was passing by, back into a vehicle and kicked out at it. His leg got wedged between the wench on the car and the bumper. I got his info from the rider herself He is now at home safe and sound. He will need meds for the wound, but will be ok. He was not hit by the car, he hit it.

[Sea Shell]

PETA needs to back off. i actually wonder how many of them have any animals. SOLA goes to the Pegasus parade in Kentucky almost every year. My horses have been down multiple times. They love to hear the crowds aplaud them. My 12 year old Arab mare actually prances sometimes during parades. My gelding likes to go out for rides.

[carol_okc]

Just in case folks have missed this, three of Mouse's shoes, mounted in nice frames, etc are being offered on eBay, with proceeds going to DEFHR. With a couple of days still to run on the three auctions, the bids are HUGE, totallying nearly $1200 the last time I looked a few minutes ago. This is a fantastic thank you to DEFHR for their prompt, effective, and professional assistance - and hopefully it will bring them not only a financial boost but some richly deserved attention to the fine job they do for the horses.

[Liberty]

Just in case folks have missed this, three of Mouse's shoes, mounted in nice frames, etc are being offered on eBay, with proceeds going to DEFHR....This is a fantastic thank you to DEFHR for their prompt, effective, and professional assistance - and hopefully it will bring them not only a financial boost but some richly deserved attention to the fine job they do for the horses.

Agreed! I've had those 3 auctions on my watch list since they started (can't afford to bid on them though).

For anyone interested, just do an eBay search on "Horse injured at Inaugural Parade" since I don't think I'm allowed to post the direct auction links here.