Equine Guelph is hosting two upcoming hands-on clinics with internationally recognized instructor Dr. Rebecca Gimenez of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Inc. (TLAER).
The first clinic runs April 25 and 26 at Mohawk Racetrack and will be open to the general public. It will be of particular interest to those involved in the racing industry including racetrack personnel.
Then from April 28 to 30, a large animal rescue operational level course for active firefighters will be available at Meaford fire department.
Horse racing industry
Participants in the fire prevention and emergency rescue training for the horse racing industry will be making an investment in safety to help protect both horses and industry workers.
Thanks to funding from the Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and support from Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) Equine Guelph has been able to organize this workshop for all three sectors of racing: thoroughbred, standardbred and quarter horse.
Gimenez has travelled from the U.S. to Ontario in the past to teach highly successful TLAER workshops, resulting in lives saved just months later.
In this special offering, the program will include emergency rescue training specific to risks associated with racing including; incidents involving starting gates, loose horses and on-track injuries.
In addition best practice responses appropriate to trailer and stall incidents as well as a strong emphasis on fire prevention and evacuation procedures will also be included.
Personnel from the horse racing industry throughout Ontario are encouraged to participate, including: racetrack personnel (especially security, facility managers and track maintenance staff), training facility managers, trainers, grooms, veterinarians, veterinarian technicians and first responders.
Tuition is $125 plus HST.
The workshop will take place at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville on April 25 and 26 from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Registration is now open online and will be limited.
To register visit www.equineguelph.ca/education/workshops.php
Firefighters
Gimenez is making her fourth return visit since 2014, working with Equine Guelph to bring TLAER training to first responders in Ontario.
Together with Meaford fire department, this specialized three-day hands-on large animal rescue operational level course will be offered to active firefighters from April 28 to 30.
“Many organizations that participate in TLAER programs do not realize how far reaching this program is – that it concerns situations from loose horses on the highway, to cattle truck rollovers, to animals trapped and needing professional extrication,” Gimenez said.
“The most important feature of the program is safety for the people on the scene first.”
This intensive course sets up scenarios where safety knowledge and techniques are practiced, including vital positioning to stay clear of the head and kick zone of the legs.
Understanding the behavioural instincts of fight or flight and learning how to utilize rescue straps so as not to injure the animal while maneuvering are just a few of the topics covered.
Gimenez emphasizes the importance of participants taking the knowledge and techniques learned from the TLAER workshop back to their industry in order to improve upon the emergency rescue success rate.
“It is really not about the animal in these situations,” Gimenez said.
“It’s about people and how we interact on scene, how we prepare, train, and equip ourselves and our organizations, and how we network at levels above and below us beforehand that will ultimately make the difference to the animal.”
This workshop is available for active fire fighters for $275 plus HST.
It will take place at the Meaford Fire Department Training Centre in Meaford from April 28 to 30.
Registration is now open online and will be limited.
To register visit www.equineguelph.ca/education/workshops.php.
For more information about either of the workshots contact Susan Raymond at 519-824-4120 ext. 54230 or at slraymon@uoguelph.ca.
submitted by
Jackie Bellamy-Zions
Equine Guelph
