LIVESTOCK EMERGENCY RESPONSE COURSE 

“Calamity” was hard at work this past month with two Livestock Emergency Response Course (LERC) trainings in Barriere and Lumby. This life-size equine mannequin has travelled with livestock handling expert Jennifer Woods around the province of BC for over five years, helping train emergency protocol involving livestock.  

Course content includes:

• On-the-spot decision-making for motor vehicle accidents, fire, and emergency situations involving livestock; 
• Lift and drag for downed horses;
• Trailer design and extrication;
• Animal behaviour, particularly in distress situations;
• Means to calm, rescue, capture, and temporarily confine animals;
• Laws, ethics, and euthanasia protocol;
• Horse handling and behaviour.

Through this training, the welfare of the animals will be greatly benefited, the safety of responders increased, and the economic impact significantly decreased.

The two-day workshops are facilitated and funded by Horse Council BC (HCBC) and offered free of charge to all fire, police, search-and-rescue personnel, and veterinarians. The course has been highly successful, and we are always thrilled with the positive feedback from participants.

“We want to thank [HCBC] for funding this training session. On behalf of the firefighters and other participants that attended the LERC Training, please accept my appreciation for the excellent job Jennifer and helpers have done. The course was a great success and immensely well received by everyone, with positive feedback.  I know at my fire hall the attendees will be passing on what they learned tonight. We can expect to work effectively as a valley during any emergency involving large or small animal rescue.”  - Lucas Banton BBA Fire Chief, Cherry Creek Fire Department

Related: Equine Emergency Preplan Checklist

GAME READY PRINCE GEORGE

HCBC travelled to Prince George to host the Prince George Game Ready, Summer Games Athlete Development Camp on May 13 - 15.

Thirty-one athletes attended the Camp held at the Prince George Agriplex, home of the equestrian competition at the 2022 Summer Games. Riders attended from Prince George, Quesnel, Hixon, Smithers, and Terrace, and enjoyed a great weekend of learning from coaches Burgi Rommel, Andrea Strain, and Lynda Ramsay.

Coach Burgi Rommel at the Summer Games Athlete Development Camp. Photo: Steven Dubas

HCBC would like to give a great big thanks to all who attended and helped to make the Camp so successful, but we would like to give a special shout out to: Bonnie Kennedy, Jodie Kennedy, Katy Ostgaard, and Steven Dubas for going above and beyond. We couldn’t have done it without you!

The deadline to qualify for the 2022 Games in Prince George has passed. The Team Selection Committees are busy reviewing all of the declarations and results.

Good luck to all of the declared athletes and stay tuned for the announcement of the 2022 BC Summer Games Equestrian Team!

Heads Up! Summer Games Athletes - All horses competing at the 2022 BC Summer Games must show proof of vaccination. If you are planning on competing at the Prince George Summer Games make sure your horse has been vaccinated.

CARA WHITHAM EC / HCBC DRESSAGE JUDGES CLINIC

HCBC is very excited to be hosting the upcoming Dressage Judges Clinic with Equine Canada (EC) Senior and FEI 5* Dressage Judge, Cara Whitham.

Registration is open for the EC/HCBC Dressage Officials Clinic.

The clinic is open to EC and HCBC Dressage Judges needing updating, EC Judges wanting status promotion, prospective new Dressage Judges, or anyone wanting to learn through the eyes of one of Canada’s highest-ranking Dressage Judges.

The Clinic will take place at: Saanich Fair Grounds on September 16 – 18, 2022.

Click to register.

Main photo courtesy of HCBC