When a horse-related emergency occurs—whether it’s a trailer accident, barn fire, natural disaster, or roadside incident—first responders are first on the scene, facing unique challenges in managing large, unpredictable animals under extreme stress.
The Large Animal Emergency Response Course provides valued and necessary skills and training to improve the safety outcomes for all 2 & 4 legged who find themselves involved in an emergency involving large animals.
We all wanted well trained resources in an emergency. Help us help you get your county the skills and training they need to give people and their horses the best chance.
Below are scripts you can COPY and PASTE. Click each link to jump directly to that script, or scroll down for more information.
- Fire and Rescue
- Law Enforcement, Animal Control, Police and Sheriff Officers
- Veterinarians
- Farm, Barn, and Facility Owners
- General (no editing necessary)
Animal Emergencies and TLAER:
This TLAER Awareness Level course provides foundational knowledge and hands-on skills, equipping participants to safely and effectively respond to these common types of incidents. It’s the essential first step. It is a prerequisite for additional TLAER training and certification.
[In the future we aim to offer a TLAER Operations Level course, which builds significantly on this foundation plus advanced techniques, such as safely righting an overturned trailer with ropes and pulleys, or expertly tying and lifting trapped animals to safety.]
Advocate for Large Animal Emergency Response Training
Where to Start and What to Say:
- Identify Your Local Entity: Each section below has suggestions on how to determine the specific department, clinic, or facility you want to focus your energy on.
- Find the Key Contact: Use websites, search engines, and other methods to identify a specific contact person. Personalizing the salutation (e.g., “Dear Chief [Last Name],” “Dear Dr. [Last Name],” “Dear [Facility Owner/Manager’s Name]”) is crucial.
- Make Contact: A phone call is a great first step. An email draft can help you stay organized and focused. A quick chat goes a LONG way to lubricate the process. Confirm their email address and ask if they would be opposed to you send them more information. Be sure to direct your efforts to the right person, to avoid SPAM and increases your chances of success!
- What to say: Familiarize yourself with the course details. Use the scripts and charts below to get you started. Be sure to tailor your message. Demonstrate that you’ve considered their specific needs and know the value of this training and how it benefits your community. Your invitation is more compelling with a higher likelihood of participation if it feels necessary and personal.
| Why they care: | Relevant Content: | Why it’s critical: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire & Rescue | Acknowledge their crucial role in public safety and the unique challenges of large animal incidents. | Focus on barn fires, trailer wrecks, extrication, scene management, and risk prevention. Mention CE/POST credit. | Emphasize responder safety, public safety, and specialized techniques. |
| Law Enforcement | Acknowledge their crucial role in public safety and the unique challenges of large animal incidents. | Highlight loose animal protocols, euthanasia in the field, roadside response, public safety, and scene management. Mention POST credit. | Emphasize responder safety, public safety, and specialized techniques. |
| Veterinarians | Emphasize their role in animal welfare and the medical aspects of emergency response. | Emphasize their role in animal welfare and the medical aspects of emergency response. | Focus on improved patient outcomes, efficient collaboration, and managing high-stress medical situations. |
| Barn Managers | Highlight your personal connection as a boarder and their responsibility for the safety of horses and clients on their property. | Focus on creating emergency plans, barn fire prevention, safe handling during crises, trailer safety, and managing natural disasters. | Highlight protecting their investment (horses and property), client safety, and enhancing their facility’s reputation for preparedness. |
- Mention Scholarships Clearly: Reiterate the scholarship availability and your willingness to help coordinate it.
- Fill in Your Details: Your Name, Your Role, and your Contact Info. Your role might be “A Boarder at [Facility Name]” or “A Concerned Client/Citizen.”
- Attach the Flyer!
Fire & Rescue
- Who to contact:
- The Fire Chief or the Training Officer/Chief of Training. These individuals oversee departmental operations and training.
- How to Find Contact Info:
- Look for a form or email on your local city/county Fire & Rescue Department website. (Contact Us/Staff Directory/About Us/Divisions (specifically the Training Division).
- Call the department’s non-emergency line (do NOT call 911) if a direct line is unavailable. Explain you’re a local resident interested in connecting with the Chief or Training Officer regarding a large animal emergency response training.
Fire Fighters and Rescue teams are often dispatched to large animal emergencies to do the “heavy lifting”. They are highly competent managing a stressful scene and their varied skills are a must in an emergency.
This class gives them practice dragging and maneuvering a large animal mannequin (horses are commonly trapped in ponds, cast in stalls, and stuck in inconvenient places). They will also get hands on experience putting out hay fires (which often re-ignite if not properly extinguished), catching loose animals, and much more!
Attendance challenges:
- 50% GA residents are served by volunteer fire and rescue departments. An additional 25% are “mostly or partly” volunteer departments. Volunteers already give their extra time to actual fire and rescue, how can we ask them to take time off of work to attend a 2-day course?! (Offered solution: With direct permission from the fire chief, AAHC is willing to offer scholarship money directly to volunteer first responders (to offset missed salary/work). To SPONSOR a first responder(s) in your county, email Ryan@AthensHorse.com.
- Continuing Education credits are managed by individual departments in GA. Each Fire Chief/training supervisor has to evaluate the course syllabus, instructor CV, and other documents in order to approve the course for CE. (You can find those docs HERE). We don’t have the resources to contact EVERY local department to educate them. We need YOU! Each person who advocates for this course in their local community makes the world safer for all of us.
Email Script
SUBJECT: Invitation: Large Animal Emergency Response Training for [CITY/COUNTY] Fire & Rescue
Dear Chief [Last Name of Chief, or “Fire Chief” if unknown],
I am writing to you today as a concerned resident and a member of the local equestrian community, passionate about the safety of both our first responders and our large animals.
Athens Area Horse Community (AAHC), in partnership with the Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP) in Conyers, GA and Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER), are offering a crucial Large Animal Emergency Response Awareness Course on September 8-9th. This specialized, hands-on training is designed to equip your dedicated staff and volunteer force with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to safely and effectively manage critical incidents involving horses and livestock. I have attached a flyer about the course for your convenience.
As you know, large animal emergencies — from trailer accidents to barn fires or trapped and stuck animals — present unique and unpredictable challenges for first responders. This course offers invaluable training to navigate these complex situations, enhancing safety for your personnel and the public.
Your team will gain critical skills in areas such as:
- Equine Behavior in Crisis: Understanding how large animals react to stress and fear.
- Firefighter Rescue Strategies: Safe extrication from barn fires, trailer wrecks, and confined spaces.
- Animal Control & Containment: Best practices for securing frightened or injured animals.
- Technical Large Animal Rescue (TLAER) Techniques: Proper lifting, extraction, and harnessing methods using specialized equipment.
- Natural Disaster Protocols: Evacuation and safety for livestock during floods, wildfires, etc.
- Scene Management & Risk Prevention: Strategies to avoid injury and find control in chaotic large animal situations.
This course offers CE credit (subject to your agency’s approval), GSB-VM CE (for Veterinarians) and POST credit where applicable, aligning with the ongoing professional development needs of your department.
The course fee is $185 per person, which includes lunch on both days. Crucially, scholarships are available that can cover up to 100% of the fee for first responders working in Georgia or this can be offered to your volunteer team members to offset lost salary for missed work – with your/your department’s permission of course. To discuss this option, Ryan at AAHC can coordinate directly with your department to streamline the scholarship application process – email Ryan@AthensHorse.com.
You can find course details, including the course syllabus and registration information, on the AAHC website: https://www.athensareahorsecommunity.com/event/large-animal-emergency-response-course/
I believe this training would be an invaluable asset to [FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT NAME] and our community. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further. I am also happy to get you in touch with the organizers at AAHC.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Role/Connection to Community, e.g., “Concerned Resident & AAHC Member”]
[(Optional) Your Phone Number & Email Address]
Law Enforcement
- Who to contact:
- The Chief of Police (for city departments) or the Sheriff (for county departments). You might also look for a Training Lieutenant/Sergeant or the head of a Patrol Division.
- How to Find Contact Info:
- Look for a form or email on your local city/county Police or Sheriff’s Office website. (Contact Us/Staff Directory/About Us/Divisions (specifically the Training Division).
- Call the department’s non-emergency line (do NOT call 911) if a direct line is unavailable. Explain you’re a local resident interested in connecting with the Chief or Training Officer regarding a large animal emergency response training.
Law enforcement officers are often the first on the scene of incidents involving large animals, facing unique challenges related to public safety, traffic control, and managing unpredictable animals. This template emphasizes their critical role and the specific benefits of the training for their department. Crucially, this course is POST credit approved. POST is Georgia’s governing body for continuing education for our law enforcement – making it an excellent professional development opportunity!
Email Script
Subject: Urgent Training Opportunity: Large Animal Emergency Response Course for [Your Department Name]
Dear Chief [Last Name of Chief] / Sheriff [Last Name of Sheriff],
I am writing to you today as a concerned resident and a member of the local equestrian community, deeply committed to the safety of both our law enforcement officers and our large animals.
The Athens Area Horse Community (AAHC), in partnership with the Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP) and Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER), is offering a crucial Large Animal Emergency Response Awareness Course on September 8-9th. This specialized, hands-on training is designed to equip your dedicated staff and volunteer force with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to safely and effectively manage critical incidents involving horses and livestock. I’ve attached a flyer with more details about the course for your convenience.
As you know, incidents involving large animals — such as loose horses on roadways, vehicle accidents with trailers, or animals trapped in unexpected situations — present unique and unpredictable challenges for law enforcement. This course offers invaluable training to navigate these complex situations, enhancing public safety and officer well-being.
Your team will gain critical skills in areas such as:
- Equine Behavior in Crisis: Understanding how large animals react to stress, pain, and fear in emergency situations for safer approaches.
- Police & Roadside Response Protocols: Handling loose horses on highways, securing accident scenes, and ensuring public safety when equines are involved.
- Animal Control & Containment Methods: Best practices for securing frightened or injured horses, including safe restraint techniques.
- Scene Management & Risk Prevention: Strategies for avoiding injury to responders, ensuring horse owner cooperation, and maintaining control in chaotic situations.
- Real-World Case Studies & Tactical Simulations: Reviewing previous equine emergencies to refine response strategies.
- Cross-Agency Communication: Working alongside veterinarians, horse owners, and other emergency teams for seamless crisis management.
This course is POST credit approved, and also offers GSB-VM CE (for veterinarians) and Fire & Rescue CE credit (subject to that agency’s approval). IT directly aligns with the ongoing professional development needs of your department in our community.
The course fee is $185 per person, which includes lunch on both days. Crucially, scholarships are available that can cover up to 100% of the fee for first responders working in Georgia. If your department has volunteer officers, this scholarship can also be offered to offset lost salary for missed work – with your department’s permission. Ryan at AAHC can coordinate directly with your department to streamline the scholarship application process.
You can find full details, including the course syllabus and registration information, on the AAHC website: https://www.athensareahorsecommunity.com/event/large-animal-emergency-response-course/
I believe this training would be an invaluable asset to [Your Department Name] and our community. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further. I am also happy to get you in touch with the organizers at AAHC.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Warm regards,
[Your Name] [Your Role/Connection to Community, e.g., “Concerned Resident & AAHC Member”] [Your Phone Number (Optional)] [Your Email Address]
Veterinarians
- Who to contact:
- Your Vet! or one you know. Talk to them at your next appointment! If you don’t have an appointment, call or email them!
- How to Find Contact Info:
- Your personal contacts or internet search.
This template is designed for you, the horse owner, to personally invite your veterinarian to the Large Animal Emergency Response Course. We know the unique and often close relationship you share with your vet, and this template is crafted to reflect that. Feel free to copy, paste, and personalize it with your horse’s name and your vet’s preferred salutation (whether it’s “Dr. [Last Name]” or their first name). It highlights the specific benefits and continuing education opportunities that make this course invaluable for veterinary professionals, allowing you to easily advocate for their attendance.
Email Script
Subject: Important Training Opportunity: Large Animal Emergency Response Course – [Your Horse’s Name]’s Owner
Dear Dr. [Veterinarian’s Last Name] (or [Veterinarian’s First Name], if appropriate for your relationship),
I hope this email finds you well.
As a client of yours with [Your Horse’s Name], I wanted to personally reach out about a crucial training opportunity that I believe would be incredibly valuable for you and your practice. The Athens Area Horse Community (AAHC), in partnership with the Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP) and Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER), is offering a Large Animal Emergency Response Awareness Course on September 8-9th.
I know you’re often on the front lines of large animal emergencies, and this course is designed to further equip professionals like you with hands-on skills and knowledge for critical incidents involving horses and livestock. It’s particularly relevant for situations like trailer accidents, barn fires, animals stuck in challenging spots, and other complex field scenarios.
The course offers specific benefits for veterinarians, including:
- Emergency Triage & Stabilization: Assessing injured horses in crisis and coordinating care.
- Technical Large Animal Rescue (TLAER) Techniques: Safe lifting, extraction, and restraint methods.
- Administering Emergency Care in Field Conditions: Managing wounds, fractures, and stress-related injuries in unpredictable environments.
- Working with First Responders: Understanding scene management protocols for seamless collaboration.
- GSB-VM CE Approved: This course is approved for Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine (GSB-VM) Continuing Education credit.
The course fee is $185 per person, including lunch on both days. I was especially excited to learn that scholarships are available for fire responders (fire & rescue) that can cover up to 100% of the fee for first responders working in Georgia. This means you will have the opportunity to network with and learn about scene management from first responders in our NEIGHborhood.
You can find full details, including the course syllabus and registration information, on the AAHC website: https://www.athensareahorsecommunity.com/event/large-animal-emergency-response-course/
I truly believe this training would be an invaluable asset to your practice and further support the safety of horses in our community. I’d love to chat more about it during [Your Horse’s Name]’s next appointment, or feel free to reach out if you have any questions before then.
Thank you for all you do for our horses.
Warm regards,
[Your Name] Owner of [Your Horse’s Name] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address]
Facility Owners, Barn/Farm Managers
- Who to contact:
- Facility owners, Managers, Trainers, Parents of horse crazy kids. Talk to those you know or come in contact with.
- How to Find Contact Info:
- Personal contacts list or internet search.
- Print flyer and deliver in-person.
Email Script
Subject: Enhancing Safety & Preparedness: Large Animal Emergency Response Course for [Your Facility/Barn Name]
Dear [Facility Owner/Manager’s First Name or Mr./Ms. Last Name],
I hope this email finds you well. As a boarder at [Your Facility/Barn Name] (and owner of [Your Horse’s Name], if applicable), I wanted to bring a crucial training opportunity to your attention that I believe would be incredibly beneficial for our facility, its staff, and all the horses under your care.
The Athens Area Horse Community (AAHC), in partnership with the Georgia International Horse Park (GIHP) and Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER), is offering a Large Animal Emergency Response Awareness Course on September 8-9th. This specialized, hands-on training is designed to equip equine professionals like yourself and your team with the knowledge and practical skills needed to safely and effectively handle critical incidents involving horses and livestock. I’ve attached a flyer with more details about the course for your convenience.
We all know that emergencies can strike unexpectedly, and large animals present unique challenges. This course provides invaluable training to manage scenarios such as:
- Creating an Equine Emergency Plan: Developing a step-by-step plan for fires, floods, natural disasters, and shelter-in-place for severe freezing weather.
- Safe Handling During Emergencies: How to catch, calm, and move a panicked horse safely.
- Trailer Safety & Accident Response: What to do in wrecks or roadside emergencies.
- Fire Prevention for Barns & Stables: Essential fireproofing strategies and evacuation techniques.
- Working with First Responders: Communicating effectively with firefighters, police, and rescue teams.
- Essential Emergency Supplies Checklist: The must-have items every barn should be stocked with.
This training is critical for enhancing the safety and preparedness of your facility, protecting your valuable animals, and ensuring the well-being of everyone on your property. It also offers a unique chance to network with and learn alongside local first responders and veterinarians who will also be attending.
The course fee is $185 per person, including lunch on both days. AAHC members receive a discounted fee of $155.
You can find full details, including the course syllabus and registration information, on the AAHC website: https://www.athensareahorsecommunity.com/event/large-animal-emergency-response-course/
I truly believe this training would be an invaluable asset to [Your Facility/Barn Name]. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or I’d be happy to discuss it further with you at your convenience.
Thank you for your dedication to our horses.
Warm regards,
[Your Name] [Your Role/Connection to Facility, e.g., “Boarder at [Your Facility Name]”] [Your Phone Number (Optional)] [Your Email Address]
General Flyer/ Invite Your Friends!
- Who to contact:
- Friends, family, fellow parents at the lesson barn, show friends and more.
- How to Find Contact Info:
- Your personal contacts or internet search.
- Print flyer and deliver in-person.
Scripts
Hey! There’s an awesome Large Animal Emergency Response Course coming up on Sept 8-9 at GIHP. It covers everything from barn fires to trailer accidents and stuck horses – really practical stuff for any horse owner. I’m thinking of going, want to join? It’s $185 ($155 for AAHC members). Check it out: https://www.athensareahorsecommunity.com/event/large-animal-emergency-response-course/
Hey! There’s a crucial Large Animal Emergency Response Course on Sept 8-9 at GIHP. It’s hands-on training for managing emergencies like barn fires, trailer wrecks, and trapped animals. I am thinking about going for both peace of mind and preparedness. Cost is $185 ($155 for AAHC members). Let me know if you’re interested in attending with me! Details here: https://www.athensareahorsecommunity.com/event/large-animal-emergency-response-course/
I wanted to share information about an important Large Animal Emergency Response Course being held on September 8-9 at the Georgia International Horse Park. This comprehensive training covers critical scenarios such as barn fires and trailer accidents. The fee is $185 ($155 for AAHC members). I plan to attend and thought you might be interested as well. More details and registration can be found at: https://www.athensareahorsecommunity.com/event/large-animal-emergency-response-course/