TECHNICAL LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE
by Margo Miller
WSHC Equine Foundation and the UW School of Veterinary Medicine Continuing Education teamed their efforts to bring two sessions of Technical Large Animal Rescue training to Wisconsin. This 2-day Operational with an optional 1-day Advanced training was geared toward people who are likely to be called to help in an emergency involving a horse. We had a diverse group including police, fire fighters, EMTs, veterinarians, vet techs, and animal control officers attend the training. They came to Bristol, Wisconsin from all over the state and beyond including Superior, Wausau, Milwaukee, the Fox cities area, greater Madison area, Iowa, and Illinois.
John and Deb Fox are California State Firefighters, and currently work with San Juan Bautista Fire. John worked over 23 years with the Felton Fire Department where he was a Captain and Battalion chief. He is the primary developer of California State Fire training's FSTEP class Large Animal Rescue-Operational. Deb spent over 10 years with Felton Fire as a FF2/EMT, LAR unit Lead. She is a developer of LAR-Operational and has over 20 years horse experience. Both are California State Fire Instructors.
The Foxes brought four weighted and jointed horse manikins, a fiberglass model with anatomical structures painted on it, and a small articulated wooden model horse for demonstration and for practice. In this Technical Large Animal Rescue training the Foxes talked about horse anatomy, psychology, and physiology and how it pertained to an emergency situation. They showed slides and video of real rescue situations then discussed the techniques used in those rescues.
Most of the training was hands-on practice. Bob Schuett of Ventura Co. Fire led training on ropes and pulley systems and assisted the Foxes along with Betsy Phillips with rescue techniques in the scenarios. Rescue techniques were taught and then used to “rescue” the manikins from progressively more difficult scenarios while working as a team.
WSHC Equine Foundation would like to thank the instructors John & Deb Fox, Bob Schuett, and Betsy Phillips who did an incredible job teaching the skills and then making us apply them in the scenarios. Kathy Nelson and Karl Olson at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine—Continuing Education have our gratitude for all the work they put into this training for a great group of participants. Finally we would like to express our appreciation to Howard Ketover DVM, Badgerland Financial, USRider, Bristol Equestrian Estates, and the Bristol Town Hall for helping make this training possible through their generous donations."
May 21, 22 & 23:
Technical Large Animal Rescue
Contact: Karl Olson at olsonk@vetmed.wisc.edu
February 13, 2010, Hearts & Horses Dance--fund raiser for WSHC Equine Foundation at The House on Rock Resort.
February 20,2010, WSHC Equine Foundation is partnering with the UW Madison to bring the Seminar for the Serious Horse Owner.
Basic Horse Handling Emergency Responder Training
by Margo Miller
Last year, horse owners from across the state gathered in Beaver Dam for a parade with a goal to raise awareness of the need for basic horse handling training for law enforcement and first responders. Funds raised at this parade were given to the Wisconsin State Horse Council Equine Foundation to develop and present training sessions for public safety professionals that emphasize how to handle horses in cases of emergency. The first few of these sessions have been scheduled. This free, hands-on, scenario-based training is being hosted by Districts 1-5 of Wisconsin State Horse Council and sponsored by WSHC Equine Foundation.
The sessions are being conducted by Edie Brogan, former UW Mounted Police Sergeant and John Brogan, Dane County Sheriff Sergeant and will last approximately 4 hours. We would like to see at least one member from every county sheriff's department, municipal police department and fire department attend one of these programs to prepare them for possibility that they may encounter horses in an emergency situation.
If you would like your local emergency responders to participate in this training, or you are an emergency responder who would like to attend this training feel free to download the following flyer, or contact us with any questions. Contact information is listed at the bottom of the following flyer.
A third group has now completed Basic Horse Handling Emergency Responder Training.
Free Money Available for 2010
Funds are again available for: scholarships, grants, trails, and Olympic qualifiers. Click below for a grant request form. Go to the scholarship section to retrieve a scholarship request form.
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Board Members are Accessible by Email. Click on any underlined name on the Board of Directors page to send email to that Board member. We welcome your input as we work to carry out our mission statement.
Welcome to the Wisconsin State Horse Council Equine Foundation
The bond between an equestrian and their equine is an experience worth cherishing; we are dedicated to strengthening this bond and enriching the equestrian experience in Wisconsin through education, research, charity, and scholarship.
