Equi-First Aid USA began in 2007, after a group of Veterinarians and horse professionals identified the need for horse owners to have the same “first-responder skills” for their animals, as humans have for each other through their Red Cross training.
We provide Veterinarian-designed and monitored courses in equine health and emergency first aid, basic first aid for kids, advanced first aid, wilderness first aid, and our newest course – The backcountry horseman’s condensed guide to equine emergencies.
We also offer training in disaster planning and emergency preparedness, safe trailering practices, and a specialized course for just for first responders.
We welcome everyone into our classrooms.
Equi-First Instructor
Lifetime equestrian Sara Carter has been riding since before she could walk and has been teaching since her teen years in the late 80’s. She has ridden across all disciplines English and Western and has even coached Special Olympic Riders and at-risk youth. She holds certifications for Special Olympics, Therapeutic Riding, and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, has a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Biological Sciences and is also has 16 certifications for Large and Small Animal Myo-Manipulative Functional and Cranio-Sacral Therapist, Kiinesiology Tape, and Cold Laser Practitioner.
Sara was a veterinary technician for almost 20 years before she moved into human massage but quickly learned that office life wasn’t for her. Animal massage came up on the list of continuing education, and she opened Topline Animal Services in 2016. To date, she has handled more than 300 sports rehabilitation cases, a plethora of strange cases, and hundreds of animals that just needed a solid maintenance program. Her repertoire includes performance horses, agility dogs, large and small athletes, 2 baby cows, a baby pig, a few cats and a llama.
Sara is driven by her desire to help people and their animals.
She certified as an Equi-First Aid USA Instructor January 2023 for 8 of the classes they offer and polished off the last available November 2023. Sara recently helped create a southeast instructors collaboration through the company that easily connects horse owners in the southeast to the Certified Instructor in their areas.
Sara travels all over the southeast bodyworking, giving clinics, and teaching Equine Health and First Aid classes. She not only has the science and hands on education behind whole horse healing but also possesses the lifetime skills in and out of the saddle for the best results possible.
She has a never ending desire for more education and often travels with the latest study material; Sara has the science and hands on education behind whole horse healing coupled with a lifetime of experience in and out of the saddle.
For more information on Sara or Topline Animal Services, you can peruse her website: www.toplineanimalservices.com
Equi-First Aid Presentations
Friday, February 23
Equine Health and Emergency First Aid
Description: Do you know what to tell your vet when you call during an emergency? In this lecture you learn what your vet needs to know, taking proper vital signs, lacerations, punctures, colic, choke, casting, shock, spinal issuesand more. first aid emergencies.
Equine Health and Emergency First Aid
Description: Do you know what to tell your vet when you call during an emergency? In this lecture you learn what your vet needs to know, taking proper vital signs, lacerations, punctures, colic, choke, casting, shock, spinal issuesand more. first aid emergencies.
Saturday, February 24
Disaster Planning and Emergency Preparedness-Sara Carter presenting
Description: A must for any livestock owner. This lecture discusses handling disasters, fire prevention, evacuation protocols, and responding to first aid emergencies.
Proprioceptive Therapies (Equine Massage)
Sunday, February 25
Safe Trailer Practices-Sara Carter presenting
Description: Keep your horse safe is your #1 priority. Is your trailer safe? Do you know protocols when involved in an accident? Do you what to do? Learn safety protocols for safe trailering.
Livestock Handling and Emergencies for First Responders-Sara Carter presenting
Description: Gear towards First Responders. Many first responders have no livestock experience, but are often called to handle them in an emergency. In this lecture you will learn livestock habits and handling.