-----DISCLAIMER - Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, Inc.-----

The name and the logo are registered trademarks and cannot be used by anyone not officially working with or for TLAER, Inc, Dr. Tomas Gimenez, or Dr. Rebecca Gimenez.  While we encourage people to coordinate and assist with training exercises and events with their local emergency responders, veterinarians, and related personnel to increase the awareness of TLAER methods, procedures, and techniques, we do not allow anyone to use our logo nor the TLAER or Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue names for their own business or promotion of alternative trainings based on our intellectual property.  Completion of a TLAER Certification Course or receipt of a TLAER Certification does not bestow upon anyone the title, rank or position of assistant instructor, instructor or anything related to being an educator for or an representative of TLAER, Inc.  Please do not pursue the use of our logo, name or website to represent your own business or training events.  While we will assist you with pictures (free of charge on our website) that you can download, and expertise via email, we have a business and have to protect ourselves.  If you have any questions, please contact me directly.  Thank you...

Dr. Rebecca Gimenez - TLAER Inc. President / Primary Instructor

 

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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 359^th 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

 

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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

 

Justin McLeod and Tori Miller  - North Carolina

Justin McLeod and Tori Miller reside in Spring Lake, which is near Fayetteville/Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Tori has been an assistant instructor since 2005 and Justin since 2009.  Justin works full time as a career Firefighter/Engineer/Emergency Medical Technician with the fire service and has numerous certifications related to the Fire and Emergency Medical Service, as well as Technical Rescue.  Tori worked previously for several years as a Paramedic and Small/Large Animal Veterinary Technician and volunteered with a local fire/rescue department and served as an Equine Cruelty Investigator with several counties and a local rescue organization.  She currently works full time as a Telecommunicator Shift Supervisor at a 911 Emergency Communications Center, handling emergency and non-emergency request for service and radio communication for the sheriffs office, several municipality police departments, multiple fire/rescue departments, emergency medical services, forestry, and other public service agencies.  Justin and Tori are currently progressing through Level 2/3  - Parelli Natural Horsemanship with some of their horses, to include four TLAER Demo Horses.  Together they own and operate 4Hooves Farm and Equine Services, volunteer as the Recruiting/Training Officers and sit on the Board of Directors for a local Equine Emergency Response/Transport Unit, instruct a Basic Large Animal Emergency Rescue (Pre-Awareness Level to TLAER) course through Central Carolina Community College in the sandhills of North Carolina, and volunteer to assist local emergency responders with large animal rescue incidents with their personal response unit, NC SMART.

 

                                                             Visit NC SMART on

 

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 as well as the Chair for the Maine Equine Welfare Alliance and an Advisory Council member of New England Federation of Humane Societies.  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, Zephyr (a miniature horse 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 horse Maggie is a TLAER Demonstration horse and her horse Pippin made appearances in several TLAER courses prior to her untimely and unexpected death in 2010.

Maine Equine Welfare Alliance                                                                              Helping Horses...Educating People!

	“The Maine Equine Welfare Alliance is a grassroots affiliation of horse owners, the equine industry and horse lovers committed to enriching and enhancing the lives of Maine’s equines through direct assistance, foster care, emergency intervention and public education.” Visit MEWA on       Contact MEWA @ whistleridge@roadrunner.com

 

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 Pennsylvania.

 

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.

 

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.  In 2001, he went to work with Charleston County Emergency Preparedness Division and started as a Volunteer with the County Rescue Squad.  The Rescue Squad hosted the first LAR class to be taught by Dr. Tomas Gimenez and Dr. Rebecca Gimenez.  While there he developed the County’s LAR Team and the training program in conjunction with the South Carolina Clemson Livestock Poultry Health which coordinates ESF-17 for the State of SC.  He also developed a Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) program for the State as well, part of the CERT program.  Shawn also serves as a Logistics Section Chief with the Lowcountry Type III Incident Management Team (IMT), and  is a handler with the SC Search Dog Team with his trailing beagle Smartie Jones.  He is also certified in Swiftwater Rescue, Technical and Trench Rescue, and a Master Scuba Diver. He along with his wife owns and operates Graymoure Stables.

 

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.

 

Gina Gonzales - Colorado

   Technical Emergency Animal Rescue Team  - Fort Collins, Colorado          Contact TEAR @ ginatearteam@hotmail.com

 

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.

       Visit Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service on

 

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.

       Visit Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service on

 

 Sandy Mayberry  -  North Carolina

 

Allen Scwartz  -  Maryland

Al and Sarah Filice  -  California

 

Kathleen Becker, DVM, MEng  -  Virginia

 

 

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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.

 

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