While rescue practices and techniques for humans are down pat on the Mid Coast, operational procedures for animals are not common for first responders.

For this reason about 130 emergency personnel took part in a large animal rescue training course, jointly promoted by Fire and Rescue NSW and the State Emergency Service at Nabiac.

Personnel from Forster, Nabiac, Tea Gardens, Taree and Wingham attended the session at Nabiac Showground late last month to learn about contemporary procedures, techniques and specialised training for accidents involving large animals.

Armed with a float, horse mannequin and, at one stage, a live horse, Hawkesbury SES Unit deputy commander, David King used a step-by-step approach to demonstrate the techniques, rescue gear and apparatuses needed in an emergency.

Mr King said the course gave first responders practical experience to deal with any incident involving large animals.

"Around NSW we have our large domestic animals getting caught in all sorts of predicaments, in septic tanks, in mud, in creeks or falling through horse float floors.

"We haven't traditionally given our rescue operators training in what to do so this is about providing the tools to do a safe rescue of large animals from all the various predicaments."

It's all about keeping first responders and animals safe in a rescue operation.

"What a lot of people don't know is when a horse is trapped it becomes highly aroused, highly stimulated and is a dangerous animal.

"It can thrash, kick, throw it's head and run away.

"With the vet, they can sedate the animal and then as rescuers we can do some amazing stuff like slinging and extricating the animal and hopefully get it to safety."

Mr King had sound advice for animal owners dealing with an accident.

"One of the key messages we need to give the public is they need to stay calm. If they get upset and crying, the animal will thrash.

"Ring your vet and they will come in and manage the sedation of the horse and at the same time ring triple zero.

"In NSW if your animal is trapped, triple zero means you will get trained rescue operators to come out and safely extricate your animal from its predicament."