An Orange County Fire Authority Urban Search and Rescue team recently saved a horse named Deuce that had fallen into a ravine near a San Juan Capistrano riding trail. Firefighter Chris Harper, part of the rescue team, described it as one of the coolest calls he’s been on in his 16-year career. The team relied on the expertise of an engineer who rides horses in his off time to prepare Deuce for airlift by helicopter.

More than 140 firefighters participated in emergency horse-handling training at the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano. The training program, now in its fourth year, includes various scenarios such as harnessing a horse for airlifting, handling a tipped-over trailer, and walking horses through an obstacle course. The program was created following a past incident involving a therapy horse named Choco, who was rescued after falling into a ravine.

The training program aims to increase confidence for firefighters handling horses in emergency situations. Firefighters learn how to communicate with horses, handle them in stressful situations, and navigate obstacles such as stairs. The program is designed to provide practical experience and build muscle memory to ensure a smoother response to emergency calls involving horses.