Take me home! (Link to Home Page)

Least Resistance Training Concepts (LRTC) Activities Typically Funded by Grants "Difficult jobs done while you wait. The impossible may take slightly longer." We are an all-volunteer organization. All the funds we receive go toward program expenses. Therefore the level of service we can provide is dependent upon donor funding. While most of our basic mentoring and adopter training activities are funded by memberships and regular donors, we are involved in a number of other important yet expensive activities such as: Range rescues Emergency fire / flood evacuations Technical large animal rescues Rehabilitation of injured and orphaned range horses Emergency transportation of horses

Volunteers from LRTC and our "partner" non-profit groups often have to work alongside public safety responders when dealing with critical emergencies. As a result we are required to be trained in various technical and public safety skills, and we are required to use equipment that is designed for and appropriate for the tasks we are undertaking. Some of this equipment is pretty expensive we rely on grant funding to acquire and maintain it. We are one of the most field-active response groups in the county, averaging over 150 calls per year. This call volume, particularly in our rugged high desert terrain, is hard on our "rolling stock" and rescue gear. Keeping up with maintenance is also a constant issue. Finally, we're worker bees. We focus on preparing for and carrying out emergency tasks, which quite frankly keeps us pretty busy. Therefore we often aren't aware of many grant opportunities and that's where our supporters come in. Most of our grant "awareness" has come from our friends and supporters.   WHAT TECHNICAL RESCUE IS ABOUT   2017 DEVELOPMENTS AND CHALLENGES In the fall of 2016 our call volume actually increased. At the same time the Nevada Division of Emergency Management relocated their technical rescue training and response equipment from our region to Battle Mountain. That move, driven by the retirement of their program lead and funding issues, has placed even more of a burden on LRTC, both for providing training for responders and for dealing with technical emergencies. As a result we now need to fund training equipment for infrequent skills practice and to train new responders. Technical large animal rescue is generally a low-frequency but high risk activity, so regular training is critical for maintaining responder safety and proficiency. Training equipment needed includes: Resquip horse training mannequin for high-risk hands-on skills practice. Estimated cost: $ 15,000.00. (The Resquip mannequin is the only one sufficiently durable for this kind of training.) Rescue rope, accessory cord and hardware that becomes worn during training. Estimated costs: $ 1,475.00 Other significant expenses: The only functional rescue A-Frame in the region has been relocated to Battle Mountain. LRTC has a fairly extensive compliment of rescue tools and equipment, but not a certified large animal A-Frame for lifting animals out of precarious situations. Certified steel rescue A-Frame Estimated cost: $ 3,375.00 The volunteers take care to protect our vehicles and equipment, but this is rugged country, most of the trailers are over 25 years old (as is the Jeep,) and periodic maintenance, repair and overhauls are necessary to keep this equipment roadworthy and functional. Current major maintenance issues that are actually overdue include: Replace axle and brakes on Rescue 3. (Trailer is 30+ years old. Parts are no longer available for the current axle.) Estimated cost: $ 1,125.00 Replace 2 axles, brakes and tires on the Water Supply Trailer. (Trailer is 30+ years old. Parts are no longer available for the current axle. Tires are over 5 years past their recommended replacement date.) Estimated cost: $ 3,275.00 Recognized volunteer responders that are allowed to perform evacuations during major emergencies such as wildfires and floods are expected to have personal safety gear that meets current standards as well as reliable communications so that responders will reliably receive accurate instructions and so nobody gets "lost" in an emergency zone. We are in serious need of upgrading both. Replace obsolete personal safety equipment (forestry jackets, helmets, etc.) Estimated costs: $ 1,750.00 Upgrade comunications equipment (used, refurbished 2-way radios) Estimated costs: $ 2,250.00 The volunteers typically donate their time for maintaining and repairing equipment, but some things simply cost a lot of money. Most of these expense items we now have to address are due to new responsibilities that have been thrust upon us or the result of deferring maintenance that should no longer be put off. Therefore this year we're really going to have to be aggressive with respect to mining for grants. If anyone has knowledge of likely grant sources that would consider funding any of these needs, please contact us. Thanks!

Return to Strike Team LRTC

Return to LRTC Home Page

Press Back to return to the page which brought you here

Return to KBR Training Page

Return to KBR World of Wild Horses & Burros

Go to other Wild Horse Links

Go To KBR Horse World

Email Us!