News Release
For Immediate Release

Large-Animal Rescue Training Available

RICHMOND, Ky. (Dec. 23, 2005) – USRider Equestrian Motor Plan and Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) have teamed up to hold two Technical Large Animal Rescue training seminars in March 2006.

The first seminar is scheduled for March 17-19, 2006, and is reserved for EKU students. The second seminar, March 21-23, 2006, is open to the public.

Geared toward fire/rescue personnel, first responders, veterinarians and horse enthusiasts, the training covers techniques and procedures to assist large animals involved in transportation accidents and other emergencies. Instruction includes 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.

“We’ve found that emergency responders, while trained experts in human rescue and extrication, generally have no training in large-animal rescue,” said Mark Cole, managing member of the USRider Equestrian Motor Plan. “Because of this lack of training, these responders are often 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.”

Dr. Larry Collins, chair of EKU’s Department of Loss Prevention and Safety, added, “Our nation is losing far too many first responders to line of duty injuries and deaths. Animals are routinely transported over most of the roads in this country, and EKU’s Fire and Safety Engineering Technology Program is proud to be part of this important program designed to prevent these needless deaths and injuries.”

Space for both seminars is limited, and the slots are filling up quickly. For more information and to register for a seminar, contact the EKU Loss Prevention and Safety Department at (859) 622-1009.

Both training sessions will be held at EKU's Meadowbrook Farm, located in eastern Madison County 2 miles off KY 52.

“EKU's Meadowbrook Farm provides an exceptional backdrop for the training,” said Cole. “This state-of-the-art facility is situated on 720 acres in the picturesque, rolling, green pastures of the Bluegrass. The connection between business and farming has always been close; however, at Meadowbrook Farm, you can see the business of farming at work.”

With the training located at Meadowbrook Farm, the instructors will be able to conduct the classroom sessions and the hands-on training at the same site. The farm’s vast green spaces also make it ideal for the nighttime search and rescue exercise, which is conducted on the evening of the second day of training. In this exercise, in addition to training and using the incident command system, the students are taught how to deal with a panicked horse owner and rescue the person’s downed Horse by using a rescue glide to transport the horse to a nearby ambulance.

In addition to these training sessions and other training initiatives and demonstrations, USRider worked with Drs. Tomas and Rebecca Gimenez to develop an awareness video about large-animal rescue. More than 1000 free copies of the video have been distributed to veterinarians, EMTs, firefighters, horse associations, law enforcement officers, horse enthusiasts and other interested groups.

The Large Animal Rescue Awareness video is still free upon request. To receive a copy, send a written request on letterhead to: Large Animal Rescue Video, USRider Equestrian Motor Plan, PO Box 54711, Lexington, KY, 40555. The request should indicate when the video will be viewed and the approximate number of people who will view it.

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. 208, or at mcole@usrider.org, or Dr. Larry Collins, (859) 622-1054 or at larry.collins@eku.edu.

EDITORS: Large Animal Rescue Images are available for download at: http://www.lexingtongraphics.com/usrider/usr_11_05

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