Inspection Detail

Inspection: 302756150 - Kearny County Feeders, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Wichita Area Office

Investigation Summary

There are a total of six cowboys who work at the feedlot. The basic duties of the cowboy require them to ride through the pens to survey the cattle and identify if there are any cattle that are sick or injured. They also treat and or separate such cattle if necessary. Cowboys also identify hazardous conditions in the cattle pens, and look for conditions which might require maintenance personnel to come out and repair. Other duties include working with the cattle moving them from pen to pen and other duties as deemed necessary. Cowboys generally ride through the pens daily, starting at about 8:00 a.m. and are finished at about 11:30 a.m. if no serious problems are encountered. Each cowboy generally provides their own horse, but may also use the company horse upon occasion. The cowboys all have radios; however, they do not have a system for check-in while making their required rounds of the cattle pens. The cowboys most generally work alone, but upon occasion are within eye or ear shot of each other as they make their rounds. The cowboys may also be observed occasionally by truck operators delivering feed to the cattle pens. On September 24, 1999, the cowboys left the veterinarian building between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and headed to their assigned areas of the feedlot. At approximately 11:50 a.m., a cowboy was observed lying on the ground inside the far west green feed pen by a visitor to the feedlot who was picking up manure. The visitor flagged down a farm tractor operator, cowboy supervisor, who radioed the office to get help. The county EMS and Sheriff responded to the accident site; however, the employee had no visible signs of life upon their arrival. There were no witnesses to the accident; however, it is believed that one of the feeder truck operators may have last seen the victim at approximately 10:00 a.m. Although no one can say for sure exactly what happened, it is speculated by the cowboy supervisor that the company horse the employee was riding was probably spooked, and the cowboy did not give enough slack on the reins to allow the horse to freely move its head. This would not allow the horse to gain its balance, and the horse and cowboy fell to the ground. There were no signs that the saddle or other equipment was defective. Manure on the side of the horse, on the saddle and on the horn of the saddle give indication that the horse did go down. The cowboy supervisor did remark that the cowboy's riding abilities may not have been equal to the horses trained capabilities. Pulling up on the reins of the horse when the horse looses its footing is a natural reaction to the situation if the rider is not thoroughly experienced.

Keywords: HORSE, ANIMAL HANDLER, FALL, UNTRAINED