Fire and air teams practice horse rescue training
It was an unusual sight to see Wednesday afternoon above the Hemet-Ryan airport — what appeared to be a horse flying in a harness from a helicopter in the sky.
What was really taking place was the annual training for Riverside County Sheriffs Aviation Unit and Riverside City Fire Horse and Animal Rescue Team (H.A.R.T.).
The teams came together both on the ground and in the air to simulate horse rescue missions with a replica horse – not a live animal.
The dummy horse simulated the weight and size of a real animal and was used for teams to practice the techniques required for a quick, successful and safe rescue. Crews were trained, tested and timed on harnessing the replica horse and hoisting it into the air as well as bringing it back down to the ground safely.
In scenarios like these, veterinarians, fire and air teams have to work together to bring the animal to safety, — many times facing rough terrain and unpredictable weather conditions to carry the animal to a more secure area.
The training took place between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. with classroom instruction and hands-on training at the airport. H.A.R.T. personnel, Sheriffs Aviation Unit personnel and helicopters (S.T.A.R. 9) conducted multiple practice runs throughout the day.
