Dodgingtown Firefighters

Learn Horse Handling For Emergencies

By Andrew Gorosko

To gain a sense of how to handle horses when they are encountered in an emergency, a Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company member, who is an equestrian, gave a talk and demonstration to fire company members on horse awareness and safety at her Hattertown Road horse property.

At a talk in her horse barn, which was illustrated by a slide show and later expanded upon with practical horse training on the property, Aileen Wlasuk explained horse psychology and how best to maneuver around horses to the about 15 Dodgingtown firefighters who attended the August 10 session.

The Dodgingtown fire district is in the heart of local horse country, extending along Hattertown Road.

Ms Wlasuk explained that firefighters’ bulky turnout gear appears alien to horses, so something as simple as removing a helmet may make its simpler for a firefighter to approach a horse in an emergency.

Ms Wlasuk told firefighters to walk slowly, casually, and in a relaxed manner while near horses. Staring at a horse is considered rude and predatory by the horse, she said. Horses should be approached from the area of a horse’s shoulder, if possible. If the horse is approached from behind, the horse should be talked to so that it knows that a human is present, she said.

She told firefighters that a horse’s first defense is to run away from trouble. Its second line of defense is to bite, kick, or strike with its front hooves, she added.

Dodgingtown Fire Captain Joe Masso said of the equine training session, “We definitely enjoyed it…We learned a lot from it,” terming it “a unique and interesting drill.”

Ms Wlasuk’s clear presentation on horse handling was most informative, Capt Masso said.

Firefighters most likely would come into contact with horses in situations such as barn fires or at motor vehicle accidents in which horses were being hauled in trailers, he said.

Providing firefighters with information on horse handling techniques should prove very useful in the event of an emergency, he said.

The training session was well-received by the Dodgingtown firefighters, he said. Seven horses were provided for the training session.

Ms Wlasuk is offering to train the members of other local volunteer fire companies in horse handling to prepare them for potential horse-related fire calls. The town has five volunteer fire companies.

Also, the Newtown Bridle Lands Association has suggested that the horse handling training program be provided to local police, she said. There are many horses stabled in Newtown, she noted.