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PRIMARY INSTRUCTORS
Tomas Gimenez, Dr. Med. Vet - South Carolina
Tomas
grew up in Mexico and went to veterinary school for his MVZ (Médico Veterinario Zootécnista) degree at the National
University of Mexico, but spent his summers in Boston and New
York City with his grandparents learning English and how much he
loved America. After vet school he worked for Syntech with his
life-long mentor Dr. Wolfgang Jochle, then got an opportunity to
attend the Royal Veterinary College in Sweden as a Fellow for a
year. Immediately after, he spent 5 years in Munich, Germany at
the Veterinary School and obtained a second veterinary
degree (Dr. Med. Vet.) from the University of Munich.
He came to Clemson University to teach surgery, endocrinology
subjects and reproduction. His career path took an unusual track
in the early 1990's when he attended a conference on large
animal rescue in California and began to get interested in
disaster and emergency response, especially in teaching large
animal rescue subjects. For more information read the
LEGACY story...SPOTLIGHT
ON A LEADER
Tomas enjoys riding his horses and working on his farm in
Clemson, SC.
Together with fellow primary TLAER instructor, Rebecca Gimenez
he gives training in Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue
techniques across the US, using privately owned animals for the
hands-on demonstrations. Jointly Rebecca and Tomas (recently
divorced) have published numerous critiques, techniques and
journal articles on the subject of technical large animal
emergency rescue, and they are internationally sought speakers
and subject matter experts on these subjects.
Tomas' current
curriculum vitae (CV) is available upon request.
Contact Dr. Tomas Gimenez @ tlaer@bellsouth.net
Rebecca Gimenez, Ph.D. and Major in USAR - Georgia
Rebecca
grew up on a farm in Sanford, Florida, where she learned to care for
and ride horses; she credits her parents with cultivating her
interests in the outdoors as well as the biological and physical
sciences. Her natural horsemanship grew from those early experiences
trail riding and socializing with friends on horseback - she didn't
even own a saddle until she was 13 years old! Who needs one if you
swim your horse across lakes and ride bareback all the time?
Her leadership training started with JROTC in the Marine Corps in high school, and
it continued with an ROTC scholarship to Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC where she graduated with a BS in Biology and met numerous mentors who pushed her to excel in research and teaching aspects of the biological and chemical sciences. Upon graduation in 1989, she became commissioned in the US Army Reserve program as a Signal Corps lieutenant and has tried to balance her military interests with a civilian career ever since. In 1994 she pursued her PhD in Animal Physiology from Clemson University and graduated in 1997 with several major research publications. Meanwhile, she increased her focus into large animal behavior in emergency situations by studying natural horsemanship with major clinicians including John Lyons and the Parellis. In 2000, she became a primary instructor with TLAER and has continued to grow the research and development of new equipment and techniques internationally.
She has a wide variety of experiences that she combines in her teaching - she taught Biology, Immunology and Microbiology as an adjunct professor at Newberry then Anderson College for several years, owned, edited and published a regional horse magazine for a couple more years, and has written numerous articles for lay publications about horse behavior and appropriate TLAER responses as a freelance journalist. She is a past member and Logistics Officer for Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT -2), and currently serves as a Major in the US Army Reserves. She returned in July 2007 from a one year combat tour in Kuwait and Iraq where she served as a Communications Officer, and currently serves as the S1/Adjutant for the 359th Signal Brigade, Augusta, GA.
Rebecca's current scientific research interests include a national survey of trailer accident causality, a study of physiological responses to Technical Rescue procedures and equipment, and an investigation into poor nutrition in horse neglect cases. Her first book on Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue was published by Wiley-Blackwell in 2008 with 6 chapter authors besides herself and
fellow primary TLAER instructor Tomas Gimenez as editors.
In addition to trail riding her 6 horses using Natural Horsemanship
methods, she owns a dog, several cats, a llama, snakes, a couple of pan-size ornamental fish.She is active in various Equine organizations - especially in disaster preparedness, animal abuse/neglect and trail riding / greenspace issues. Together with
fellow primary TLAER instructor, Tomas Gimenez she gives training in
Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue techniques across the US,
using privately owned animals which Rebecca trains for the hands-on
demonstrations to perform without sedation. Jointly Rebecca and
Tomas have published numerous critiques, techniques and journal articles on the subject of technical large animal emergency rescue, and she is an internationally sought speaker and subject matter expert on these subjects.
Rebecca's current curriculum vitae (CV) is available upon request.
Contact Dr. Rebecca Gimenez @ delphiacres@hotmail.com
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS
If anyone needs to make contact with a TLAER Assistant Instructor, please submit the email or request for contact to either Tomas Gimenez or Rebecca Gimenez.Shawn Jones - South Carolina
Shawn has been involved in
emergency services since 1990 where he stated as a volunteer fire
fighter and volunteer EMT with Caromi Fire Department and South
Berkeley EMS Ladson, SC.
Shortly after that he went to work with
North Charleston District Fire Department where he served as a
Captain over the Rescue Unit and Hazmat Team. While at the District
Fire Department he became a South Carolina Fire Academy Instructor.
He also worked with Ashley River Fire
Department as a Battalion Chief and Fire Inspector.
Eric Thompson - Kansas
Eric is a graduate of Kansas
University with a B.G.S. in Environmental Science and is currently
working for Overland Park Police Department as the Chief Animal
Control Officer. He is also an instructor for the Kansas State
Animal Response Team and a national responder and instructor for
Code 3 Associates. Eric is certified in water, mud, rock, ice, fire
and trailer rescues of animals and is a certified National Equine
Cruelty Investigator through L.E.T.I at the University of Missouri.
In addition, Eric is working with several counties in both Missouri
and Kansas as a FAD and disaster planning consultant by
incorporating animal-related operations into existing Emergency
Support Functions.
BethAnn Rau - Pennsylvania
Beth-Ann Rau is an ASHA
certified Speech-Language Pathologist who specializes in working
with school-age students with speech, language, reading and social
skills impairments. She received her B.S. in Communication Sciences
and Disorders from Auburn University in June 1999 and her Master of
Education degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of
Georgia in May 2003. Beth-Ann works with these students in a
variety of unique settings including using equine partners to
conduct Hippotherapy and Equine-Assisted Therapy sessions as a NARHA
certified therapist. When not working with students, Beth-Ann
enjoys playing with her two horses, Ms. Pat and Winston, as a Level
3 Parelli Natural Horsemanship student. She enjoys being able to
combine her passions of teaching and horses to help others learn how
to interact positively with horses. A native of Atlanta, Georgia,
Beth-Ann now resides in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area.
Nancy Elberty - New Jersey
Nancy’s passion and commitment to the safe and efficient technical rescue of large animals has prompted her to not only continue to develop her own skills and expertise, but to educate and train others. Over the years, she has managed various injuries with horses, including her own and also participated in several educational programs to develop her skills and knowledge in equine anatomy and physiology. Through this journey, Nancy developed a special interest in the stabilization and safe transport of sick and injured horses. Nancy has since earned several certifications in Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER), the Incident Command System and a multitude of different emergency training operations. Nancy has outfitted one of her trailers to operate as an equine ambulance. The trailer is able to safely transport a horse in a variety of positions depending on the special needs of the animal. Her rig is also equipped with a rescue glide, a sling, kimzey splints and a variety of other rescue gear. The trailer and Nancy’s services are a resource that can be called on by veterinarians, first responders and horse owners in the event of an emergency or special needs transport.
Kandu Acres, located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, is a US
DOT registered commercial livestock hauler and provides both
scheduled and emergency equine transportation services. Kandu Acres is equipped with a Rescue Glide and other large
animal rescue equipment to assist with emergency situations.
Contact - Nancy Elberty
@
nelberty@kanduacres.com
Califon, New Jersey
Justin McLeod and Tori Miller - North Carolina
Justin McLeod and Tori
Miller reside in Spring Lake, which is near Fayetteville, North
Carolina. Justin has recently been certified as an assistant
instructor in 2009 and Tori has been an assistant instructor since 2005.
Justin works full time as a career Firefighter/Engineer with the fire service and has numerous
certifications related to the Fire and Emergency Medical Service, as
well as Technical Rescue. Tori has previously worked for
several years as a Paramedic and
volunteered with a local fire / rescue department, as well as a
Small and Large Animal Veterinary Technician and Equine
Cruelty Investigator. She currently works full time as a 911 Telecommunicator,
simultaneously answering emergency and non-emergency calls while
handling radio communications of the sheriffs office, several
municipality police departments, multiple fire / rescue departments,
emergency medical units, forestry, and other public service agencies.
Justin and Tori are currently progressing through Level 2 - Parelli
Natural Horsemanship with some of their horses, to include three
TLAER Demo Horses, and are experimenting with Parelli training
methods on their llamas. Together they own and operate 4Hooves Farm,
volunteer with a local Equine Emergency Response Unit,
and volunteer to assist local emergency responders with large animal
rescue incidents on an on-call basis.
NC SMART - Specialized Mobile
Animal Rescue Team
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Available to respond to Large Animal
Emergency Incidents in Cumberland and surrounding counties.
Emergency response for longer distances is handled on an individual,
case by case, basis. A licensed veterinarian MUST be enroute
or on-scene upon NC SMART arrival. Please contact us if
you are TLAER Certified or are interested in volunteering your time
and experience, and can respond to Cumberland or surrounding
counties in a reasonable amount of time in the event of a large
animal emergency incident.
Contact -
Tori Miller / Justin McLeod
@
nctlaer@aol.com
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Dr. Peter Conserva - Connecticut
Dr. Peter Conserva is an equine
veterinarian who resides in Connecticut. He has been
in private practice in West Suffield, Connecticut since
1976. Dr. Conserva graduated from University of
Pennsylvania in 1974. Peter has attended multiple TLAER
courses with Tomas and Rebecca since 2005. Currently, he is
involved with local fire departments from around the state
with Emergency Rescue Techniques and horse barn fire
avoidance. This is performed under the wing of
Connecticut SART (State Animal Response Team), of which he
is the Large Animal Coordinator. Dr. Conserva
is also planning to acquire one or two horses well suited
for training, much like Tomas and Rebecca's horses.
Jeff Galloway, Ret. LT. - Tennessee
Jeff Galloway has been in the fire
service for over 32 years in South Florida and Tennessee. as a
professional and volunteer. He has responded to many equine
related incidents resulting in injury and death to both horse and
rider. Jeff is a National Fire Instructor, Large Animal Rescue
Instructor, Emergency Medical Technician and serves on a State
and Federal Incident Command Management team. He currently
serves as a Federal Safety Officer responding across the country
to large scale disasters and wildfires.
Jeff also holds a Federal Red Card for Strike
Team Engine Leader, Strike Team Crew Leader and Structure
Protection Specialist and has been deployed both within the
State of Florida and Nationally. He has served as the Safety
Officer, Deputy Incident Commander and Liaison Officer with the
Florida Type II Interagency Management Gold Team. As an
avid horse owner, rider and Large Animal Rescue Instructor he is
now concentrating on training Firefighters and Emergency
Personnel how to handle horses and other large animals during
natural and man made disasters, barn fires and other emergency
situations with large animals.
John Haven - Florida
John
Haven is currently the Director of the University of Florida College
of Veterinary Medicine. He is a member of the State
Agricultural Response Team (SART). John developed the UF
"VETS" (Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service) statewide disaster
response team after the 2004 storm season. "VETS" consists of
a 12 person deployment team to provide patient care to large and
small animals, perform veterinary infrastructure support, damage
assessment, and large animal technical rescue. John is an
Incident Command System (ICS) instructor and teaches ICS to SART
partner agencies and veterinary students / staff. John relies
on his past experiences as a volunteer firefighter in Marion County,
Florida, and his eight years in the Air Force to better prepare him
for the "expect the unexpected" TLAER incidents.
Michelle Melaragno - Maine
Michelle has been a Maine resident for the past
33 years but is a transplant from her home states of Rhode Island &
Connecticut. She has been working with horses for 20+ years
and had success through New England states in gymkhana competitions
with her first rescued horse – AQHA "Docs Special Touch". She
recently accepted the position of Director of Operations for HEART
Equine Ambulance (Humane Equine Aid & Rapid Transport) after
spending 4 years as Barn Manager at Pineland Farms Equestrian Center
in New Gloucester, Maine. Michelle was previously employed
with the local Humane Society and veterinarians as veterinary
technician, worked as Farm Manager and Animal Assisted Therapy
Coordinator at group home for boys in state custody, and served as
volunteer coordinator for a NARHA Premier therapeutic riding center.
She is a charter member of the Androscoggin County CART (County
Animal Response Team), focusing on large animal/livestock issues in
emergencies & disasters. Michelle began her involvement with
TLAER in July 2008 by hosting a course in Maine then assisted at
another course in Kentucky and at the Mounted Police Colloquium with
Rebecca. She has since assisted at Maine’s second course, as
well as courses in CT, NY, & MD in 2009, and at KY, FL & NY in 2010.
Michelle shares her home, Whistle Ridge Farm, with Maggie, a
Percheron/Morgan mare from the PMU industry, Pippin & Zephyr (mini’s
acquired from a state neglect case), two Portuguese Water Dogs, and
seven cats. Somehow, she also finds time to operate a guinea
pig rescue from her home. She has taken in over 300
abandoned/abused/neglected guinea pigs and found adoptive homes for
more than 200. Michelle’s horses Maggie & Pippin have started
the process of being evaluated as demonstration horses for TLAER.
HEART,
Humane Equine Aid & Rapid Transport, provides state-of-the-art
emergency transportation services for injured or ill horses.
Our highly-trained crew specializes in loading and transporting
horses that need urgent care. HEART serves as an ambassador to
the world of competitive horse showing, providing and promoting the
highest standards of care for equine athletes. HEART is
looking to hire Equine Ambulance Attendants for 2010 shows and
events, most located on the east coast, others are in OH, KY, TX,
and OK. Requirements: TLAER Operations Level Certification (or
equivalent training), a valid Drivers License, experience driving a
truck and horse trailer ability to travel and be away for 7+ days at
a time. TLAER Operations Level students are eligible to apply.
Contact: Michelle Melaragno, Director of Operations @ HEARTequineambulance@roadrunner.com
Sandy Mayberry - North Carolina
Allen Schwartz - Maryland
Al and Sarah Filice - California
Kathleen Becker, DVM, MEng - Virginia
Jim Green - United Kingdom
Jim
Green trained as a forest manager and experienced various aspects of
forestry both in the private and public sector before moving to
Australia for a season as a first attack forest firefighter with
their Forestry Commission. Since joining HFRS Jim has utilized his
forestry and farming skills to develop the Service’s Rural Safety
and Animal Rescue Teams.
Anton Phillips - United Kingdom
Anton
Phillips is a watch manager at Eastleigh Fire Station and Animal
Rescue Specialist. Having a strong agricultural and equine
background, he became the catalyst to develop a specialist Animal
Rescue Team in Hampshire. Anton has spent many years studying animal
psychology and physiology which has enabled the fire and rescue
service to achieve safer working practices.
DEMONSTRATION ANIMALS
*The real STARS of the training...*
We are fortunate to have trained demonstration animals (horses and llamas) that we use to provide realistic hands-on training to students of our courses. Most of these animals have been raised from birth using the imprinting methods of Dr. Robert Miller, and desensitization / familiarization methods espoused by Ray Hunt, Tom and Bill Dorrance and taught through John Lyons Perfect Horse and Parelli Natural Horsemanship methods. If owned from birth, they attend and participate in their first public training at about 6 months of age...and from then on are a permanent part of the demonstration team. Those demonstration animals that have not been owned since birth but have been either purchased or rescued are introduced slowly to the training course in order to build confidence and not instill fear. The same natural horsemanship methods are used to familiarize the animals with the equipment and techniques used throughout the course so that they can participate in the trainings with focus and without panic or fear. The relationship with our animals is first and foremost and will not be jeopardized for the sake of a single training demonstration.
The question most often asked regarding the demonstration animals....
Many people ask if the animals ever get injured or scared while participating in training demonstrations under helicopters, tied down on a Glide, showing a splint complete with a mulage (fake) injury, jumping into the water, lying down for webbing and rope manipulations, or even while acting scared while running loose for the containment portion of the training.
The answer...
Through natural horsemanship methods, the demonstration animals are trained to confidently accept all the people (both experienced and inexperienced with large animals), night time practical exercises, loud noises, equipment that is placed on them and the environment they are placed in. Many times they are allowed to run loose during the hands-on practical sessions, and consistently choose to approach and interact with the people on location. They are trained to lie down on command and allow us to touch them with ropes and webbing. Training animals to act as demonstrators for Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue trainings starts with imprinting at birth, and continues with everyday training and handling. There are numerous excellent natural horsemanship teachers and clinicians (Pat Parelli, John Lyons, Clinton Anderson, Linda Tellington-Jones, On Target Training, etc.) available to animal owners. All of these animal/ people training techniques and methods emphasize positive responses, encourage the building of an inter-species communication system, and utilize low stress and minimal force when training the animal. We have found that application of these techniques is useful in preparing the animals for the introduction of unusual requests such as asking the animal to allow us to lay them down in front of crowds of students, perform vertical lifts and other rescue maneuvers without sedation, and allowing various webbing configurations to be placed on their bodies. The only time that chemical restraint is used is to increase their safety when demonstrating the more complex techniques, such as the Rescue Glide. Mostly, the demonstration animals are spoiled throughout the trainings by both the instructors and the students with their own form of "sedation" which consists of lots of TREATS!! Without the cooperation of these animals, most of the photographs and contributions to TLAER knowledge presented would not have been possible. The authors and instructors consider these animals to be their close family members and value the close relationship and bond they have created over time.
SON'S SUEDE KARMA
- Senior TLAER Instructor
KARMA is truly the most reliable of our demonstration animals. He has been participating in our seminars since he was born in 1999, and started his unusual career early – he was the second TLAER certified demonstration horse in 2000. Standing at approximately 16.1 hands, Karma is a strawberry roan National Walking Horse gelding. He is related to all of the other National Walking Horses in the TLAER program by being the product of the same sire. He is unique to the TLAER course as he is the only demonstration animal that has been lifted several times under a helicopter in an Anderson Sling during various courses over the years. In July 2008 at Ivy Rock Farm, Karma officially received his “flight wings” from Ralph Demasi of the US Army for 6 successful slingload demonstrations in GA (1), SC (1), CA (2) and LA (2). When not participating in TLAER courses or trail riding, Karma spends his time at home in a Pendleton, South Carolina pasture.
"I
was very impressed at the way your horses behaved under the
pressure we put them through, I said that Karma should get an
Air Assault Badge for his work with helicopters. I know he
cannot qualify for an Airborne Badge because he does not jump
from the same." Ralph
Demasi, US Army TLAER 2008 - Ivy
Rock Farm, New York
SON'S TORNADO
WARNING -
Senior TLAER Instructor
In 1998, on a day where the weather forecast issued a “tornado warning”, a black National Walking Horse with a snip on his nose was born. TORNADO, as he was fittingly named, is a gelding and the smallest of the national walking horse herd at 15.3 hands. He has been a versatile addition to the training course and can be used as a demonstration animal in all aspects of the TLAER course, gaining his certification in 2002. He is related to all of the other National Walking Horses in the TLAER program by being the product of the same sire. He has several good tricks to share with students (picks up sticks, loads in trailers without a halter and lead, comes on command, and is playing on Level III Parelli Savvy Natural Horsemanship, which means Rebecca sometimes rides him without a bridle or halter and he performs most ground skills at liberty. Tornado spends his off time trail riding, being a lesson horse for riders who are not very confident, and grazing in the pasture in Pendleton, South Carolina.
SON'S ELECTRIC BLUE
- Senior TLAER Instructor
SON'S IMPROMTU ANGEL
- Senior TLAER Instructor
ANGEL was born in 2000 and started as a demonstration animal in 2002. Standing approximately 16 hands, Angel is a black walking horse mare, registered as a National Walking Horse. She is related to all of the other National Walking Horses in the TLAER program by being the product of the same sire. While at home in Georgia with Rebecca, she is strongly opinionated about being the boss mare in the pasture. In her normal life, Angel is an awesome trail and foxhunting horse and comes when she is called by name. Angel is at her best when being laid down for the applicable TLAER demonstrations.
SON'S SANCHO
- Senior TLAER Instructor
SANCHO was born in 1993. Currently residing in Pendleton, South Carolina and towering above the herd at 16.3 hands, this black National Walking Horse gelding was the first to wear the Anderson Sling in our early demonstrations and was certified in 2000. He is related to all of the other National Walking Horses in the TLAER program by being the product of the same sire. A true gentle giant, Sancho enjoys jumping and trail riding when not ingesting a multitude of treats at a TLAER course – where he will do a body cavity search if he smells treats in your pockets. Sancho’s training originally began utilizing the John Lyon’s training methods, over the years he has been introduced to Parelli Natural Horsemanship methods and has become the most advanced riding horse in the herd. Unfortunately, he was never taught to lay down as a young horse so he does not perform those manipulations.
DEXTER
- Senior TLAER Instructor 
DEXTER is of unknown breeding, but we know he is a 400 pound white Llama with an attitude! Originally we got him because he was hard to catch, but we soon realized he was an extremely intelligent and cunning animal who was simply evading his captors by utilizing his natural instincts. As a result of his evasiveness, Dexter is considered to be TLAER’s “Senior Containment Instructor”. We have found him to be a versatile asset with the training courses as he plays many roles during the course, including being vertically lifted and stuck in the mud. It is estimated he was born around 1994. Although he has been gelded, he is still the boss of the whole herd of horses. Dexter lives with the rest of the Gimenez’s herd at the farm in Pendleton, South Carolina.
AERIAL PAINTED PANTS -
Junior TLAER Instructor
AERIAL was a neglect starvation case that we rescued in 2003, one of the only two TLAER demonstration horses we did not raise ourselves - but she has found her calling in this unusual “job” TLAER. From a meager foal suffering with severe malnutrition to a gorgeous American Indian Paint Horse, her beautiful blue eyes and medicine hat coloring belie her diva attitude and strong opinion that humans are made to be horse scratching posts and provide treats! She can rear on command, lays down, climbs up on obstacles, and generally endeavors to entreat students to pet and scratch her, then give her lots of treats. She certified in only 1 year to complete all of the demonstrations in the TLAER program in 2004. “Famous in her own mind”, she has been highlighted and featured in numerous articles in magazines, photographs in newspapers/ TV news, and is even featured on the cover of “Save Your Horse”, by Michelle Staples, an introduction book about large animal rescue for horse owners…and even has had her own online opinion column. Aerial can be found in a pasture in Pendleton, South Carolina and will sign autographs by appointment only.
RHETORICAL -
Junior TLAER Instructor
TORQUE was the victim of neglect and was rescued in 2007 by Palmetto Equine Awareness and Rescue for Equines, in South Carolina. It is estimated he was born in 2003-2004, and even though he is the shortest of the herd at 15 hands, he has fought his way up to be Number 2 in the pasture! After rehabilitation by PEARL volunteers, Rebecca adopted him and paid for his cryptorchid surgery at UGA Vet School, and Torque came to live with the others in Pendleton, South Carolina, in October, 2007 because he knew how to lie down on command. His training has been a long and slow process as he has tremendous mental and emotional issues that he has had to deal with as a result of his past abuse. He is very willing and through natural horsemanship methods he has regained his confidence and has made great strides with his training. He went to his very first public training in New York in July, 2008 where he calmly laid down on command, interacted with students, and showed them how sweet he really is by standing still for the Anderson Sling to be emplaced. He is currently being ridden and advancing in his training, and was recently certified as a TLAER demonstration horse.
LEVO - Junior TLAER
Instructor
LEVO is a gelded white Llama who is much more friendly than Dexter, but can still express his opinion and make it difficult for the students to catch him or put the appliances on for a vertical lift. We were fortunate to find him in New Jersey in 2008 and have hauled him to several TLAER courses to give Dexter a break. He is now certified for vertical lift, containment, and handling.
DOUBLE TAKE OF MATRIX
- Junior TLAER Instructor
DALLY was born in 2005. Her dam is TLAER Demo Horse "Double Take". She is a sorrel and white Tobiano and is double registered as Spotted Saddle Horse and Tennessee Walking Horse. Exhibiting a strong independent behavior at birth, Dally was imprinted by her owner, TLAER Assistant Instructor Tori Miller, along with TLAER Instructor Rebecca Gimenez. Within a couple of days she was being taught to lay down and showed no resistance or fear, which prepared her for her future as a TLAER Demo Horse. She is currently working on Level II Parelli Natural Horsemanship methods and is currently beginning her development under saddle. Dally resides at 4Hooves Farm near Fayetteville, North Carolina. Dally participated in her first TLAER training October 2008 in Raleigh, North Carolina..
COPY'S DOUBLE TAKE
Owned by Assistant Instructors, Justin McLeod and Tori Miller, DOUBLE TAKE, as she is known by at the barn, was born in 1994 and is a registered Tennessee Walking Horse. At 15.3 hands, she is a mare of substantial size with a heart bigger than she is. Double Take's life experiences prior to arriving at 4Hooves Farm were both good and bad as she was passed down through several owners. Since 1999, Tori had the opportunity to handle and ride Double Take due to knowing her original owner and being related to her second owner. During those years, Double Take was the ultimate trail horse. She was then sold to a third person and eventually ended up in a holding pen at a local horse auction facility where she was purchased by a fourth person. A week later, she was purchased by Tori and Justin and hauled to 4Hooves Farm. She arrived with emotional and mental issues due to her past experiences. Currently advancing to Level II through Parelli Natural Horsemanship training, a positive relationship was developed based on trust and confidence. Double Take will live out the rest of her years at 4Hooves Farm near Fayetteville, North Carolina, participating in TLAER and being an all-around trail horse. Double Take participated in her first TLAER training in Virginia Beach in May 2009 with her offspring “Dally"..
4HOOVES LAREDO - TLAER Instructor In-Training
Rescued by TLAER Assistant Instructors Tori Miller and Justin McLeod in August 2006, LAREDO, born in 1996, is a 16.2 hand off-the-track, dark bay Thoroughbred gelding. With a fairly unknown history, Laredo showed some mental and emotional scars upon arrival at 4Hooves Farm. Since being introduced to and following the Parelli Natural Horsemanship methods, Laredo has gained confidence and shown immense improvement physically, mentally and emotionally and is advancing through Level I and Level II ground skills. Laredo has been ridden and appears to have had some previous lower level dressage or hunter jumper training. At 4Hooves Farm near Fayetteville, North Carolina, he will live out his life with a future in TLAER and on the trail. Laredo participated in his first TLAER training in October 2008 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
MAGGIE
- TLAER Instructor In-Training
*****Instructor Bio Available Soon - - Owned by Assistant Instructor Michelle Melaragno*****
PIPPIN
- TLAER Instructor In-Training
*****Instructor Bio Available Soon - Owned by Assistant Instructor Michelle Melaragno*****
4Hooves
Rescued Me
- TLAER Instructor In-Training
As a two year old, LEVI was one of many horses rescued from a farm that was under investigation for equine cruelty. He is a Spotted Saddle Horse and is owned by the father of TLAER Assistant Instructor Tori Miller. Though untouched since birth and fearful of humans upon being rescued, Levi has developed emotionally and mentally through Parelli Natural Horsemanship methods and a lot of TLC into an extremely confident, curious, playful and well-mannered horse. We are looking forward to his physical development catching up to his psychological development, a delay resulting from his growth being compromised due to a lack of nutrition and proper healthcare management during the first two years of his life. At that time, he wil be trained under saddle and will live out his life in the pastures at 4Hooves Farm, on the trail, and at future TLAER Courses. Levi participated in his first TLAER Training Course in May 2010 in Middleburg, Virginia.
PATTI
- TLAER Instructor In-Training
*****Instructor Bio Available Soon - Owned by Assistant Instructor BethAnn Rau*****
GEORGIE
PORGIE
- Retired TLAER
Instructor
GEORGIE PORGIE was the first certified TLAER training horse, a Quarter horse born at Clemson University in 1995 and unfortunately orphaned his first day of life when his momma died of a torn uterus. In 1996, he made the debut for the first 1 day program in Monk’s Corner, SC with the Charleston Area Rescue Squad. Since then, he was the first horse that Rebecca trained to lie down for manipulations, to allow an Anderson Sling to be placed upon him, and to generally be patient with the students approaching him with appliances to place on his body. He was needed more as a riding horse for Rebecca’s father, who in 2000 lost his beautiful riding mare, so he now lives in Clifton, Tennessee.
STATEMENT OF LIABILITY: The founders and instructors of the TLAER course do not recommend trying any of the techniques or maneuvers used during the course or seen in photographs with an animal that is not a certified TLAER demonstration animal. Many hundreds of hours have been spent training and developing relationships with the TLAER certified animals to allow them to perform the maneuvers and techniques used during courses and seen in training photographs in a focused, confident manner without experiencing fear, panic or injury. The techniques and maneuvers used during courses and seen in training photographs should only be performed for demonstration using TLAER Certified Demonstration Animals to ensure the safety and welfare of the animal. During an actual large animal emergency where rescue is required, the rescue should only be performed by TLAER certified or TLAER trained individuals
STATEMENT OF HUMANE TREATMENT: None of the animals used in our training courses, laboratories, or demonstrations are subjected to pain or distress. Photographs of many of the scenarios, procedures and methodologies presented in this site are of these animals that are personally owned by the authors. No animals were used in training scenarios that could potentially cause pain, injury or distress. Only trained demonstration animals were used in training courses, laboratories and demonstrations. Mild sedation is used in some scenarios to prevent any possible distress from the procedures, or to prevent the animal possibly injuring itself , and is administered by a licensed veterinarian in each case. The animal's welfare and level of comfort is constantly monitored during all training exercises and demonstrations, often by multiple humane officers and veterinarians.