Incidents involving livestock, including horses, can result in loose, injured or dead livestock, as well as, human injury or death. Distressed animals can be unpredictable and dangerous, thus presenting a risk of injury to responders, owners and bystanders. Responding to any animal related incident will involve people putting themselves and others at risk. The public expects a level of response grounded in best practices. Responders with such training can improve animal welfare outcomes. Related responder training varies between disciplines. Large animal rescue and livestock emergency response training provided as hands-on and virtual is an effective forum to create positive change. Through proper training of best practices, risks to responders and others involved in livestock incidents are mitigated as well as an improvement to livestock welfare. 

Multi departmental training facilitates a partnership between disciplines when responding to an animal related incident. “An unexpected benefit from the course for me was the ability to work closely with first responders from other professions (other than my own) in a training environment. The opportunity to work so closely with these first responders was invaluable.” Participant, Large Animal Rescue Course, Equine Guelph, University of Guelph, October 12-14, 2018, Meaford, ON. These programs are provided by Equine Guelph, University of Guelph and Farm & Food Care Ontario. Equine Guelph’s online education program on TheHorsePortal.ca is a partnership with the provincial equestrian federations (Canada), Equestrian Canada, the Ontario racing industry and various local organizations. Farm & Food Care Ontario is a coalition of Ontario livestock groups (farmfoodcareon.org/livestock-emergencies).