Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-21
HELP FO1 YOUR HORSE
WIEN he FALLS ON ICE
Experts Suggest Best Ways to Get
Animal on It's Feet When the
Streets Are Slippery.

One of the Winter sights Of n city that
humane people dread is the slipping and
falling of horses on icy streets The
present Winter has been easy on horse
flesh, though there have been few morn
ings when the asphalt was too slippery
for easy going by smooth shod horse
When a horse falls in harness he almost
Immediately struggles TO regain his feet
A strong. healthy horse will not remain
down voluntarily, but in his efforts to rise
he may become frightened. If the driver
will give the right kind Of first aid he can
prevent serious injury to the animal,
according 10 specialists IN tho Department
of Agriculture.
Held down by the harness the horse
seldom has sufficient freedom to rise 10
his feet. though enough 10 struggle and
injure himself by pounding hrs head on ltc
ground Accordingly, the driver should
calm the horse first by speaking IN a re-
assuring tone and by placing his knees
upon the animals neck Just back bi the
cars. endeavur TO prevent injury from
struggling or from bruising his head. An
intelligent horse quickly learns to place
great confidence in the voice ot good
driver.
The traces and brceching straps should
be unfastened and the vehicle rolled back
from the fallen animal. If the horse IS
in double hitch, the traces and yoke strap
should be unfastened and the pole, We
hicle, and working mate moved q short
distance away. An injured horse will
then regain his feet readily II ne hos SUIT
able footing. In case the ground = ICY,
scatter some fine sand, sawdust, or straw
under and in front Of him. If nothing
Of this kind Is available, spread blanket
or burlap bagging on the pavement TO
give him letter footing as he attempts
To stand
In case the horse needs more help
and encouragement, and especially II he
lies hroadsidc, roll him on TO his chest,
with the hind legs under the belly Then
work both front legs forward until the
feet are firmly on the ground and knees
flexed If after repeated efforts and
good footing he continues to fall back
upon the ground there is possibly some
injury to the hind parts, such as 2 fracture
Of the hip or leg, which should be examined
by qualified veterinarian
In all effort TO assist a fallen borse do
not forget that in rising to hts feet he
raises the head and fore parts first
Injuries to hoiscs are common during
the Winter months in cities where snow
becomes packed and forms an ICY coating
on the pavement In most cities above
the frost belt there are times when pave
ments are slippery.
AspI alt IS especially troublesome and
when covered by 4 very slight sleet Or
snow makes . very treacherous footing
for horses The mIlknan or baker VINO
drove upon q clean pavement the night
before, may find the streets at ! q. m.
so nearly impossible from coat Of smooth
ice rs To delay his deliveries very greatly.
or even prevent them entirely
In country districts horses remain sharp
or rough shod for a considerable time
But II they arc driven much on city streets
paved with stone, cement, Or asphalt,
from which the snow has been removed,
their, shoes quickly bccome smooth and
it is difficult for the horses to keep their fert
When the front feet slip backward a
horse is likely to fall and inIure bis aoes,
while side slipping generally cause IN to
come down broadsldc. ShooH with
rubber pads, or the use ot emergency
appliances may lessen the chance Of slip
ping, but as there Is always the possibility
of a horse falling, even when well shod
careful driving and precautions against