Equine Guelph is excited to announce the launch of a Large Animal Emergency Rescue (LAER) course, available on-demand starting February 2026. This Awareness Level online course is proudly offered with the Grand River Agricultural Society as a program partner.  It is designed to provide awareness-level preparation on best practices for handling large animal emergencies.

The LAER online course is self-paced and on-demand so participants can learn at their convenience. Registrants must be a minimum of 18 years of age. They are given one-year access to all materials which require approximately 15–20 hours to complete. The cost is $45, or free with registration for an Equine Guelph LAER hands-on course.

Participants registering for an Equine Guelph LAER hands-on course will receive complimentary access to the online module.  While reviewing the online material before attending the hands-on session is encouraged, it is not mandatory. Hands-on workshop registrants will have access to the online module before the course and for a year in order to review the techniques they have learned.

“This online course is a great starting point for anyone who may encounter large animal emergencies,” says Program facilitator, Susan Raymond. “It introduces the principles and practices that can make a critical difference in safety and animal welfare. Building awareness before a crisis occurs is key to an effective response.  Horse owners, in particular, will be more prepared to stay calm in an emergency situation. For situations that are beyond their scope, they will have the knowledge to make the right calls and clearly communicate the details of the situation to best prepare first responders who are called in to help.”

What Will Be Covered

The LAER online course is divided into six units, introducing participants to key concepts:

• Unit 1: Course introduction and foundational principles complete with “what would you do” scenarios
• Unit 2: Incident Command and Management of large animal emergency rescue
• Unit 3: Understanding large animal behaviour and safe handling practices, including dealing with loose animals.
• Unit 4: Equipment and basic rescue techniques, including safety zones
• Unit 5: Advanced techniques overview
• Unit 6: Scenarios for emergency preparedness

Dr. Rebecca Husted, internationally recognized for her work in Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER inc.), says this course is a useful step towards emergency preparedness:
“This is an introductory course focusing on best practices related to dealing with a large animal emergency situation. The information contained in this course addresses awareness level JPR’s (job performance requirements) but is not designed to replace hands-on practical training. The course addresses many of the topics (but not all) covered by NFPA Standards 1006 and 2500 at the introductory level. We encourage students in this course to further their skills and training by attending an in-person training event.”

Who Should Take This Course?

Ideal for:

• Firefighters and pre-service students
• Law enforcement
• Animal welfare officers
• Veterinarians and veterinary technicians
• Transporters
• Emergency animal response teams
• Horse owners, livestock producers, and equine associations

Victor MacPherson, Lead instructor for Equine Guelph’s LAER program and retired District Fire Chief, says:
“Understanding the basics before you’re in the heat of an emergency is invaluable. This course aims to provide participants with knowledge in best practice to assess the situation, anticipate potential hazards, and communicate effectively with first responders which helps ensure that everyone, including the animal, has a positive outcome.”

By the end of the On-Demand: Large Animal Emergency Rescue (LAER) Awareness Level course, participants will have a basic understanding of ‘who does what’ and the chain of command in animal related incidents. They will also have greater awareness of how animal behaviour may change during and after stressful situations.  In addition to learning about basic rescue techniques; participants will learn about personal safety, public safety and animal welfare necessary for a safe outcome for all during emergency situations involving large animals.

Improve your emergency preparedness!
Visit TheHorsePortal.ca to register for the LAER online offering and to view the upcoming hands-on course opportunities.

Spots are filling up fast for the May 1^st hands-on offering in Port Perry ON – Large Animal Rescue Workshop – Awareness Level. (hands on course registrants will gain the online offering free for a year).