Be Careful
• Don't approach a horse that is thrashing. Wait for him to quiet down.
• Don't pull on the halter to move the horse.
• Don't pull on the horse's legs - he'll resist.
• Don't try to roll the horse over toward the center of the stall by pulling on his legs. He'll resist, and even if you are successful, this will put you directly in the line of thrashing legs.
• Don't go into the stall until someone else is there, either to help you or just to make sure you get out safely.
Warning: Stay as far back from the horse as you can after repositioning him. As soon as the horse thinks he may be able to get up, there's a chance that he will start thrashing around trying to do just that. By always staying on the back side of the horse, away from the legs, you will be safe from injury from flailing legs. But because of fear, panic, disorientation and being tired, these horses throw themselves around a few times before successfully getting up. Once the horse has enough room to sort himself out, get out of the stall if you can. If you don't have a clear exit, stay as far back as possible.
Once the horse is on his feet, he'll quiet down . Give him a few minutes to regain his composure, making sure he's reacting normally to your presence. Then check him over for cuts or obvious swellings. Most horses escape unscathed, but others, especially if they were trapped for a good while until someone discovered them, can be banged up.
It's a good idea to recheck the horse after several hours because swelling may not occur right away. It's wise to remove the halter until that second check. If he develops swelling along his head or face, the pressure from the halter could do further damage.
