Barrington Countryside firefighters trained in horse-handling

Specialized equine rescue training helped “breed” familiarity between horse and firefighter, and practice skills needed to protect the large number of horse farms within the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District, says Deputy Fire Chief John Feit.The training sessions at Barrington#146;s Shamrock Farms, helped firefighters #8212; some of whom had never seen a horse up close #8212; become familiar with the animals. The sessions were organized by the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society, a Barrington-based nonprofit that helps abused and neglected horses.#147;The training helped our firefighters become more comfortable working with these large, powerful farm animals,#148; Feit explains. #147;That experience will be very valuable during a barn fire or other type of equine emergency. The skills they gained are essential to ensuring the safety of the horses, district residents, and firefighters.#148;Society instructors worked one-on-one with fire department personnel. Firefighters learned proper techniques for haltering horses, leading them from the barn, and loading them into trailers. The training also focused on dealing with panic-stricken horses.#147;A frightened horse may be unwilling to leave its stall during a barn fire,#148; said society trainer Ronda Ewing. #147;Firefighters learned ways to calm the animal and get them out of harm#146;s way.#148;Ewing says this type of training is crucial, considering the fire protection districts#146;s large equine community.#147;Firefighters#146; ability to interact with the horses and lead them from danger is essential to the animals#146; protection,#148; she adds.