The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District recently conducted its first large animal rescue awareness training, involving 57 personnel from firefighters to battalion chiefs. Held at Osuna Ranch and led by the San Diego Humane Society Tech Rescue Team, the half-day course focused on horse safety during emergencies, stabilization techniques, and supporting formal rescue units. Using both an 800-pound horse dummy and live horses, firefighters learned critical skills such as placing halters, applying hobbles, moving downed horses, and safely rolling them to help them stand, all aimed at protecting both the animals and responders.
The training was inspired by RSF Fire Captain Kyle Carranza’s recognition of a gap in horse rescue knowledge within the district, despite frequent calls involving horses. Participants gained practical experience and confidence in handling large animals, even those weighing up to 1,500 pounds, and learned how to prioritize human safety when a horse falls on a rider. The course emphasized calm, controlled approaches to horses and provided valuable tools and techniques to improve emergency response for the community’s significant horse population.
