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
Pinos Altos Fire & Rescue Volunteers use fire hose to fashion a rescue harness on Freddy, Ted and Mara Miles's 11 year old gelding.
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Horse Rescue Workshop
Instructor Vicki Schmidt and horse owner Ted Miles demonstrate the use of vehicle tow rope from the firefighters' truck to create a safe harness for rescue.
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Horse Rescue Workshop
Bounty, Ted and Mara Miles's 9 year old gelding, patiently models the "Swiss Seat," a variation of a forward assist drag, which is made of yellow vehicle tow rope and can be used to lift a trapped or injured horse.
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Horse Rescue Workshop
The "Rescue Noodle", ingeniously designed with an ordinary pool noodle and rescue webbing, is an effective, gentle, and safe tool to immobilize or otherwise control a horse's leg(s).
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Horse Rescue Workshop
The "Rescue Noodle" is attached at the top of the horse's leg without having to touch the animal and is then dropped to the horse's ankle to control leg movement.
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Horse Rescue Workshop
Instructor Schmidt demonstrates the proper positioning of the "Rescue Noodle" on Bounty's leg.
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Horse Rescue Workshop
Schmidt shows local firefighters the skills needed for a successful backwards rescue of a horse.
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Horse Rescue Workshop
While only to be used in dire situations and only when the horse's spine is straight, a sheet bend knot may be attached to a horse's tail hairs to pull the animal from a tough spot.
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Horse Rescue Workshop
Maine State Fire Instructor Vicki Schmidt and her assistant, Bounty, take a moment's break.
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