Saving Horses During Wildfires - First Responder Preparedness for Large Animal Emergencies

Wildfire relief

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

During wildfires, First Responders often face high-stakes situations involving large animals such as horses. With 88 cities in LA County and thousands of horse owners, the demand for ongoing, hands-on training far exceeds current availability. While programs like the Shea Center and LART serve critical roles, more support is needed.
Free Rein Foundation seeks to become an additional training resource to meet this growing need. We’ve seen the urgency firsthand—having housed displaced horses during past wildfire events. Our rescue work gives us unique insight into equine behavior, especially when animals are frightened, injured, or starving. With a wide range of horses and pasture animals onsite, we are well positioned to offer practical training that equips responders with the tools, empathy, and protocols needed to act quickly, safely, and humanely.

Free Rein Foundation will serve as an additional training resource that expands First Responder access to large animal emergency response training in LA County.
The demand for ongoing, hands-on instruction far exceeds current capacity, and we are uniquely positioned to help meet that need. With access to a wide range of horses and farm animals—and more than a decade of experience in equine rescue and behavior—we offer a dynamic, scalable training environment grounded in real-world readiness and compassion.
Our team includes trained horse handlers, equine therapists, veterinarians, and over 40 experienced volunteers. Together, they bring the skill and flexibility to support realistic, scenario-based trainings for a variety of emergencies. The program will equip First Responders with horse handling techniques, large animal rescue protocols, and stress-safe communication strategies. A train-the-trainer model will extend our impact across multiple agencies.
This pilot lays the groundwork for future community education efforts aimed at supporting private large animal owners and strengthening evacuation coordination. Our vision is a more humane, responsive, and wildfire-resilient LA County—where animals are safely evacuated, and those saving them are empowered to do so effectively.

If successful, this initiative will result in a safer, more resilient Los Angeles County—one where first responders are equipped to handle large animal emergencies with confidence, coordination, and compassion. Horses and other large animals will face fewer injuries or deaths during disasters, and responders will face less risk and emotional strain. The program will strengthen cross-agency collaboration and build trust between emergency services, animal owners, and the broader community.
Long-term, this model can be scaled beyond Los Angeles County to other wildfire-prone regions in California. By documenting training protocols, success metrics, and public education materials, Free Rein Foundation will create a replicable blueprint for first responder preparedness that integrates both technical skill and emotional intelligence.