Visiting Maine State Fire Instructor Conducts Large Animal Emergency Rescue Workshop

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 16 September 2012 16 September 2012

Photos and Article by Charlie McKee

On Saturday, September 15, and Sunday, September 16, Vicki Schmidt of the Buckfield, Maine, Volunteer Fire Department conducted an intensive workshop on large animal emergency rescue for Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire and Rescue personnel, as well as for individuals from the Gila Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico. The training gave them an opportunity to share their own knowledge of horses and emergency rescue with each other over the weekend, as well as learning the new rescue techniques taught by Schmidt.

During the two-day session, Schmidt concentrated primarily on horse rescue. The training incorporated not only how to utilize and leverage the firefighters' standard equipment to extricate horses from entrapment or otherwise dangerous situations as safely as possible, but also how to approach an animal to minimize danger to both the horse and the human.

Maine State Fire Instructor and horse owner Schmidt summed up the workshop in these words, "The best part of all this was seeing the sharing of skills and knowledge happening between the firefighters and the horse owners.  That type of cooperation is what makes programs like this a success, especially in the long term."

Schmidt was invited to teach the workshop by Marc Levesque, Battalion Chief of the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.  The workshop is believed to be the first of its kind to be conducted in Grant County.  If there is enough interest in learning these life-saving techniques going forward, Schmidt may return to Grant County to teach the workshop again next year.

Photos by Charlie McKee and Susan Porter

Horse Rescue Workshop Horse Rescue Workshop Horse Rescue Workshop Horse Rescue Workshop Horse Rescue Workshop Horse Rescue Workshop Horse Rescue Workshop Horse Rescue Workshop Horse Rescue Workshop

Horse Rescue Workshop

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.