Conference noted::equitation

    
    After a tragic barn fire a few years back in Littleton,MA.
    Area firefighters were brought in to local farms for training
    in handling horses during an emergency situation.
    Most firefighters had never come in contact with horses and 
    didn't know what to do and found that they were getting in the
    way rather than helping.  With the help of some enthusiastic
    helpers, the stations would send out teams for training in
    haltering, leading, blindfolding and bandaging.  The firefighters
    were very interested in learning and had fun doing it.
    I would encourage private barns to invite their firefighters out
    just in case!
    
    -Marianne-
    

    
    
    		i know this doesnt have to do with prevention, 
    however me and my trainers wife were talking. she has insurance
    on the barn and if something were to happen to my horse, accidental
    death my horse is covered under the insurance.  I know people 
    who have lost horses and never got a cent back, so i was happy to
    hear that especailly the value of my animal.
    
    		wen.
    

re: .0

Just because a horse is stabled at home does not mean its any "safer".
At least you have more control over the situation, and can narrow
down the possibilities! But, you cannot always account for equipment
failure, acts of god, negligence, or just plain stupidity. Just think,
every time you put hay in the barn you run the chance of a fire!

I like having my horses at home (convenience, comfort, peace of mind,...), 
but I am constantly worried that I might be needlessly exposing them 
to danger caused by my own stupidity. (e.g. - The thoughts expressed in .1
are well taken. I, for one, don't know how to get a horse out of a
burning barn.)


re: .2

Hmm.. It's funny that you mention insurance. I was just at the agent's
today (Farm Bureau of South Carolina). My barn and some of
the livestock are covered under my homeowners policy. I've got the
rest of the livestock covered under a general farm liability policy.
The thing that is NOT spelled out in either policy is the basis for
repayment on horses. My agent is going to look into it.

For cattle it is simple, you get the fair market value.
However, what's fair for cows, is not necessarily fair for horses.
For a real valuable beast, you might be very disappointed 
if you get "fair market" price (namely the .10 or .20 a pound
that an old horse will fetch for dog food). 

I guess this is the agricultural equivalent of the way a
moving company handles its basic insurance: You'd be pretty
irritated if they tried to pay you $1.50 a pound for the
Ming Vase that they just broke.

/ed

	We had a fire several years ago.  My parents horses ]
	(standardbreds) are stabled at a track in Marlboro - we 
	live in Berlin (2 towns	away).  I'll never forget it either -
	

	My parents were away at horse races in Greenfield - they
	had trucked some of their friends horses out there.  I was
	the only one home (I was about 15).   Someone called on
	the phone - They had a CB, and were talking to someone
	at the barn.   The barns on fire - How do they get the
	horses out - Boy, My heart still drops thinking about it.

	I remember telling the woman to tell the man at the fire
	to open the back door of the barn - The front of the barn
	was completly in flames.   I then heard the man at the
	fire say They (the firemen) can't get the door to open
	
	I was yelling into the phone, tell them to PUSH, (Boy,
	this really does bring back memories, I'm in tears trying
	to write this) and then hearing the man say its to late
	we can't get them out.  I was screaming (hysterically I think)
	(I could hear the  horses screams of terror any time the
	man on the CB talked).

	I finally got a ride to the barn (I didn't have my license
	at that time) about an hour after the phone call.  

	Two horses were turned out in the paddock - I checked they
	weren't ours - No, No horses were saved I was told.  All
	four of our horses died - of smoke inhalation.   The bitch 
	of it is they all died needlessly - The firemen were trying 
	to open the door of the barn like a garage door,up,  instead 
	of pushing it sideways.


	I remember a man coming over to me and saying "Boy you
	should look in one of the windows at those horses."  
	(There were alot of people getting their jollies looking
	in the outside stall windows) I lost it, I remember hitting
	the man, and starting to scream.  
	
	I remember my Dad getting out of the truck and saying Oh
	my god, and clutching his heart.

	I remember my Mom standing there crying.

	The cause of the fire?  Two kids decided to torture a kitten.
	I went to school with one of the kids - I made sure everyone
	knew exactly what they had done.

	They (the 2 kids) managed to get charged with negligance
	in court.

	I still make that kids life miserable any chance I get.

	/robin

    When I think of how some of the youngsters can be so cruel it really
    makes me wonder what kind of parents they have. I feel very sorry
    for you to have had this happened but even worse because it was
    caused by such sick acts. I hope that in time, you will be able
    to push it further out of your mind.
    
    A friend of mine had his barn burn down in Concord, NH about 10
    years ago. He lost 39 out of his 40 horses, all of his tack, equipment,
    etc and it turned out to be arson.
    
    It really makes you wonder about people sometimes, especially when
    it comes to their abuse of poor, defenseless animals, no matter
    how big or small.
    
    Linda
    
    
    

    
    
    		hi linda ,
    was that townsends barn??? yea tom mcdowell went over and helped
    on that mess, thats when his wife and i were talking about the
    insurance  that we have on the barn and horses.  i'll have to ask her some
    more on that.
               
    
    		wendy.
    

    OK, how do we get horses out of a burning barn?  Mine is cinderblock,
    but the upstairs is for hay storage, has a thick oak floor and metal
    sides.  There is only one door to the stable -- a real garage,
    lift-it-up door.  We are planning to knock out the back wall, at
    the end of the aisle and install a second door leading into a paddock.
     After reading the horrors in this note, I will push that up to
    the top of the list of things to accomplish this spring.
    
    To the people who have invited firefighters out for training, I'd
    like to hear more about what happened.  Real specifics, please.
     I'd like to be prepared.

    I took a copy of Robin Wheeler's story about the tragic fire at
    a barn where her family had boarded four horses, to a meeting of
    amateur horseowners last night.  I told them the jist of the story
    and passed around copies of the note.  I also told them it had scared
    mee to death and hoped it would scare them, too -- enough to make
    sure they had taken precautions.
    
    Thanks, Robin.  I know it was hard for you to write the story, but
    you may have saved a few equine lives by doing it!
    
    Merrie