Members from the West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department joined members of the Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company in attending Large Animal Rescue Training presented by Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) personnel at their facility in Lisbon. Patricipants learned a variety of skills critical to safely assessing, handling, and assisting in animal rescue situations.
DEFHR began the day with briefings on large animal behavior and case studies of rescues. Attendees were given hands-on experience in corralling, capturing, and haltering loose horses; creating halters from pieces of rope; and humanely attaching and using ropes to move horses. Some scenarios included opportunities to practice skills on a life-sized model of a horse. The session closed with a discussion of the resources that DEFHR can bring to a rescue situation. Participants left with a CD of information, a training review handout and an extensive list of large animal rescue resources. All who attended left feeling more confident in their ability to handle a large animal rescue.
