A HORSE is said to be cast when it gets stuck on its back or side and, a bit like a turtle, can’t get its feet under it to stand up again. This can happen for a number of reasons:

  • Horses may lie down too close to a wall, in their stable for example, and are then unable to stretch out their legs to get up again.
  • A horse may roll in its stable and get stuck with its legs up against a wall, or tangled in a hay net.
  • If the horse’s rug shifts when they lie down they can get tangled in the belly or leg straps, and again will be unable to regain their feet.
  • A horse can also get cast out in a field or paddock; horses can get cast when they lie down too close to fencing or other objects. Lying down in a hollow, or against a hill can prevent a horse from regaining its feet. Sometimes soft footing makes it hard for a horse to stand up after lying down.
  • Horses can also fall in the horse box or lorry, and be unable to get up.
  • Many horses, especially youngsters, scratch their ears with a hind toe, and can get tangled in their head collar.

    • When a horse becomes cast, they are likely to become panicked and will struggle to free themselves, which could lead to the horse causing itself injury. A panicked and struggling horse is particularly unpredictable and could also injure a handler. If a horse is cast for a long time, blood can pool in the muscles on the underside of the horse and nerves can become damaged from the pressure of the horse’s own body weight. Blood can also pool in the lungs causing the horse to suffocate. This is why if the horse is not found for many hours when it becomes cast, it may die.