News Release - 11/6/06
For Immediate Release

USRider Teams with EKU to Offer Animal Rescue Training

Lexington, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2006) – Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) will soon be visited by some four-legged friends. USRider and EKU are collaborating to present large-animal emergency rescue training for the third consecutive year. They’re bringing in specially trained demonstration animals, horses and a llama to help provide realistic hands-on training during the seminars.

USRider offers a nationwide roadside assistance program designed especially for equestrians. Since its establishment in January 2002, the company has endeavored to raise awareness of the need for training in large-animal emergency rescue.

“We’ve found that emergency responders, while trained experts in human rescue and extrication, often have no training in large-animal rescue,” said Mark Cole, managing member of the USRider Equestrian Motor Plan. “Because of this lack of training, responders are being put at great risk. Moreover, in many accidents and disasters, animals without life-threatening injuries are being injured further or even killed by use of incorrect rescue techniques.”

USRider and EKU have planned two Technical Large-Animal Rescue training seminars to be held next spring. Scheduled for March 30-April 1, 2007, the first seminar is reserved for EKU students. The second seminar, April 3-5, 2007, is open to the public, with emphasis on recruiting fire and EMT responders, veterinarians and others. The training is being funded through the Large-Animal Rescue Endowment Fund, administered by USRider.

The training will educate fire/rescue personnel, first responders, veterinarians and horse enthusiasts about techniques and procedures to assist large animals involved in transportation accidents and other emergencies. Instruction will cover the use of sedatives and tranquilizers, chemical restraint, rescue ropes and knots, rescue from horse barn fires, mud rescue, helicopter rescue and water rescue, among other situations. The training, which consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training, qualifies each student to receive FSE 489 credit for the class.

New this year, the public seminar will have a bonus session on HAZMAT Decontamination of Large Animals. Scheduled for the morning of April 6, this free session will cover the issues related to rescuing large animals that have encountered chemical, biological or radiological contamination. Local and state emergency preparedness officials are encouraged to attend. Interested parties should contact EKU so accommodations can be made.

Mark Cole, managing member for USRider, said, “We are very glad to continue our partnership with EKU through their College of Justice and Safety, especially since the university is located in central Kentucky – an area that is commonly referred to as the horse capital of the world.”

Due to the hands-on nature of the training, each large-animal emergency rescue seminar is limited to 30 participants. Be sure to call and reserve your space today. For more information on the seminars and to register, call the EKU Loss Prevention and Safety Department at (859) 622-1009.

Contributions to the Large-Animal Rescue Endowment Fund may be sent to the Division of University Development, CPO 19A, Jones 324, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, Ky., 40475-3102. The Development office may be reached at (859) 622-1583.

USRider Equestrian Motor Plan is a nationwide member-based organization providing roadside trailering assistance, including towing and roadside repairs for tow vehicles and trailers with horses, emergency stabling, veterinary referrals and more. For more information, visit www.usrider.org or call 1-800-844-1409.

FOR EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS ONLY – For more information, contact Mark Cole with USRider, (859) 543-8585, ext. 106; mcole@usrider.org.

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