Firefighters swapped a life-sized model of a horse for the real things when they practised rescuing large animals at Lackham College last Thursday.

The Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service crew, who are increasingly being asked to rescue large animals, have already got a full-sized mannequin horse for practise.

But last week they went to the stables at Lackham College to have a go with the real thing.

Watch manager Tom Brolan said: “The mannequin is great for acting out scenarios because it is very realistic.

“It has provided really good training because we can’t stick a real horse in a ditch.

“But there is nothing like getting up close and personal with an actual horse to get the experience we need.”

He added: “Even though we are a rural brigade we do not have many rural people on board.

“We are going to more and more incidents where large animal are involved so it is very important to know how to handle them for their safety and our own.

“They are very unpredictable animals and they can kick out at any time – crews need to be aware of these dangers.”

The seven crew from Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, along one fire control attendant, took part in the three hour training session organised with the British Horse Society.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has two specialist animal rescue teams based in Stratton and Amesbury which use a £14,000 full-size mannequin and hoisting equipment funded by the RSPCA.

At Lackham, firefighters faced the scenario that a fire had broken out in a stable and they had to get the horses out as quickly as possible, while also dealing with a panicking owner.

“Owners can get very attached to their horse,” Mr Brolan said. “So we need to know how to keep them out of the way as well as how to control the animals.”

Wiltshire British Horse Society chairman Jan McKernan said: “A horse wants to stay in a safe place so, if a fire breaks out and someone is not confident in handling them, the animals will not leave their stables.

“By getting more experience with real horses the fire crew will be able to act confidently in an emergency and the horse is less likely to be harmed.”

Three groups from Stratton St Margaret took part in the sessions led by equine consultant Jack Malcolm.

The last time the crew involved in the training had been called out to help a horse it was to move an animal stuck on its side in a field in Cricklade.

As the firefighters had not yet been trained, rural safety officer Mr Brolan had to tell them not to go near the horse until he arrived because they could injure the animal and themselves if they did not act in the right way.

“Our new equipment was essential in hoisting it up and back on its feet – luckily it was not too dramatic but you never know what you could be called to,” he said.

The Fire and Rescue Service would like to hear from anyone willing to donate a horse trailer for training sessions. E-mail tom.brolan@wiltsfire.gov.uk