Orange County Firefighters Train to Rescue Horses Safely

Firefighters who rush into burning buildings are now learning an entirely different skill: becoming horse whisperers.

About 30 firefighters from Orange County recently completed a five-day training program at the Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding in San Juan Capistrano. The program teaches emergency responders how to safely calm and lead horses during rescues, protecting both the animals and themselves from injury.

"It's one of the most dangerous calls we run, because we are around a large animal that is scared and that is a prey animal," said OCFA Battalion Chief Danny Goodwin. "So it's fight or flight."

The need became clear in 2021 when a horse named Choco fell down a ravine and needed rescue. Goodwin, who grew up riding horses, led that operation and realized many firefighters had never even touched a horse before. Practicing with plastic dummies wasn't enough preparation for handling a terrified, thousand-pound animal.

The Orange County Fire Authority serves 23 cities, and at least 11 have active horse-riding communities. That includes expected areas like San Juan Capistrano and Yorba Linda, but also surprising locations like Santa Ana, Stanton, and Cypress, home to a race track. The agency responds to five to ten large animal emergencies each year.

During training, firefighters learn to read equine body language, approach horses safely, and guide them with gentle but firm confidence. They spend days walking horses through winding trails in the San Joaquin Hills, brushing coats, and getting comfortable with how these massive animals move and react.

The Ripple Effect

The program is the only one of its kind in the country, and it's creating measurable improvements in the field. Dr. Jaqueline Johnson, a veterinarian who assists with training and real rescues, has noticed the difference immediately.

"They've gotten so much better, so much smoother because the firefighters are like, 'Oh, I know how to be around horses,'" Johnson said. The training has also built stronger relationships between emergency responders and veterinarians, making rescues run more efficiently.

Fire crews from neighboring cities including Orange, Norco, and Huntington Beach now participate in the annual sessions. The Shea Center's CEO, Dana Butler-Moburg, believes their gentle, patient therapy horses create the perfect learning environment for firefighters who need to build confidence before facing real emergencies.

She hopes other equine facilities across the country will create similar programs in their own communities.