There are occasional instances when the safest way to remove animals from overturned trailers involves getting the trailer upright. However such a decision needs to be carefully considered based on such elements as the structural integrity of the trailer, whether an animal inside has a hoof through an opening or is endangered by some interior hazard(s) and what is likely to occur to that animal when the trailer is uprighted (e.g., will the animal end up on its feet or will it now be sideways in an uprighted trailer with its head strung up by a trailer tie?) Uprighting a trailer with animals inside is not a fix-all solution. A veterinarian or an experienced technical large animal rescue expert should carefully assess the situation before any decision is made to upright the trailer prior to removing live contents. These types of rescue activities require specific training to be conducted safely. This presentation merely presents some overview concepts. If a proper determination has been made that an overturned trailer should be uprighted a number of considerations follow. A safety zone must be established and no unnecessary persons should be in this zone. A good task for an upset horse owner can be to keep all non-rescuers away from his/her trailer and animals. A Safety Officer needs to be formally assigned whose sole responsibility is safety of the operation and scene. Some considerations must be given regarding how the animals will be contained once they exit the trailer. Three suitable anchor points have to be located, significant anchor points on either side of the trailer in which to secure haul lines, and a suitable anchor point that can be used to secure the trailer tongue. (Trailers can swing about when being uprighted with dangerous results if the trailer tongue is not held reasonably straight.) Some means of chocking the "ground side" trailer tires needs to be deployed to prevent the trailer from rolling forward. (If the trailer tongue is properly secured, the trailer will not roll backwards.) Adequate points of attachment must be determined to affix the haul lines. If the trailer does not have sufficiently strong side attachments, the haul lines should be affixed to axle hardware. If vehicles are used as anchor points, ignition keys should be given to the Safety Officer to prevent someone from inadvertently relocating a vehicle while still attached to the rescue rigging. "Z-rigs" should be deployed to upright the trailer. A simple Z-rig provides a 3-to-1 mechanical advantage and is a far safer and more reliable means of carefully uprighting the average overturned horse or small stock trailer than using cables and winches. Power winches can prove extremely dangerous if the operation hits a snag and the trailer lurches free or the cable, hook or attachment hardware breaks. Rigging of haul lines should be in accordance with standard climbing and rescue practices. Particular care should be made to prevent lines and hardware from being damaged by sharp edges and other mechanical hazards. Someone must be in charge of coordinating the volunteers handling the lines on both sides of the trailer. As one team pulls the trailer upright, the other team needs to let out an equal amount of slack so that the trailer uprights smoothly and doesn't rotate past center when the weight of animals inside shifts from one side to the other. Trailer tongue secured, slack removed from haul lines and the instructor is in a position to coordinate the activities of both teams. Video clips of the exercise. These types of exercises are essential in order that volunteers as well as professional emergency responders recognize the various forms of equipment and techniques that can be utilized in large animal emergencies, how to avoid and prevent dangerous situations from occurring, and for identifying manipulative skills that warrant additional practice. Such practice is also critical to developing effective teamwork between the various entities that may have to work together at these emergencies. For related information please visit Jeep and Winch Procedure Guide.