Recovery from anesthesia can be a difficult and potentially dangerous time for the equine patient. One method of providing a measure of safety and reducing the risk of injury during the post-anesthetic period is through the use of a head and tail ropesystem. The system aids in stabilizing the patient until it is able to stand unassisted. The use of head and tail ropes during equine anesthetic recovery is important to help ensure the patient's welfare. A head-and-tail rope system enhances the likelihood of good recoveries by assisting the equine patient in standing and preventing hard falls and stumbling. In many institutions and practices, the patient is allowed to stand on its own, without assistance, whenever it is able. Although this may be suitable in many cases, perhaps even the majority, there is increased risk to the patient during recovery. After orthopedic procedures, this may be even more significant, given the inherent risk that accompanies these patients. The disadvantages to the system come in the form of increased costs for the equipment and the personnel required to operate it. The advantages, however, may offset the disadvantages when considering the patient's well being. Post-anesthetic complications or injuries are factors thatmust always be taken into account at recovery. As of this writing, there were no data on recovery rates at Texas A&M Universitybefore the implementation of the head and tail rope system. The authors' clinical impression is that using this system to aid the equine patient during recovery reduces the likelihood of complications and injuries to both patients and handlers, and it affects the recovery rates only minimally.
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