Troika Drafts & Harness Shop

30/12/2024

Honored to be invited to share some LAER knowledge and expertise! Any FF's out there who have not attended the NEFS it is one of the best and sells out fast.
My topic will be:
What's On Board?
Most firefighters and their chief officers do not realize that thousands of horses and cattle travel our interstates and local roadways on a daily basis. Many of the animals on board can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention the economic lifeline something as seemingly simple as a trailer load of beef cattle may be to the owner. Many fire departments also fail to recognize that their standard fire apparatus has equipment on-board that can help mitigate a Large Animal Emergency Rescue incident. This program will provide emergency responders with information regarding the transport of large animals along our highways, as well as introduce them to mitigation strategies utilizing equipment common to most emergency apparatus.

Northeastern Fire Summit 2025

Tactics. Tips. Tricks. Leadership. Brotherhood. Culture. Building Construction. Mental Health. Cancer Prevention. Recruitment/Retention. FOOLS.

https://nefools.org/event/northeast-fire-summit-2025/

25/12/2024

Form our barns to yours. .
Wishes for the best for you and all your critters ❤🎄🎠🎄❤

22/12/2024

Thank you too all the veterinarians who have been there for my critters over the years, and to all those I have met through my LAER calls, travels, and classes. . .I know its not an easy job and personally, sometimes I don't know how you do it. Here's to hoping the next generation of farm-call veterinarians find lots of good answers.

When Aimee Thompson graduates from Washington State University Veterinary College in May 2025, she will not be heading to a bustling city or a thriving

20/12/2024

One never knows what their LAER of the Day will be. . .
Nice work Maine State Police!

📰 Troopers Respond to Crash Involving Cattle on Turnpike in Lewiston 📰

On Monday, December 16, 2024, at approximately 11:30 am, Troopers responded to a single vehicle crash at Exit 79 on the Turnpike in Lewiston involving a pickup truck hauling a cattle trailer. The driver was traveling southbound when the incident occurred. The initial investigation indicates that the rear doors of the cattle hauler were not properly secured, causing them to unlatch. As a result, the cattle inside the trailer shifted, leading to three animals falling from the back of the trailer onto the roadway and one cow running out of the vehicle once the trailer had stopped. One cow landed in the passing lane and suffered a broken leg, while two others sustained road rash and were located on the shoulder of the road. The fourth cow ran out of the trailer and into the woods nearby. Troopers secured one of the cows by tying it to the back of his cruiser, using a buddy system to help calm the other animals and prevent further movement.

Traffic was impacted, with one lane temporarily shut down as the driver, 39-year-old Dustin Bubar of Stetson, Maine worked to reload the animals into the trailer. Bubar was cited for Unsecured Load on a Vehicle. Animal Control Officers from the Lewiston Police Department assisted on scene, along with passersby who stopped to help. The crash remains under investigation.

14/12/2024

It's kind of hard to not disagree!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/3745487602330773

14/12/2024

In Honor of National Horse Day! ❤
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1410456006333989

Send a message to learn more

06/12/2024

Along with frost action. .another reason we have rocks popping up in our fields that weren't there last year!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1084903466433534

Send a message to learn more

05/12/2024

The TIC's (thermal imagine camera) your FD's carry on their apparatus are good for finding lost horses and livestock too! Especially at night. .
https://digital.fireapparatusmagazine.com/fireapparatus/october_2024/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=2013822

28/11/2024

One amazing rescue!
"The ground was there until it wasn't" which is a common comment with these rescues that often occur after heavy rains. If your farm has any old wells, buried culverts, etc this can happen to cattle, horses, tractors, etc.

27/11/2024

For our friends in the Phillips, Maine area. . .
Please make sure your pets and livestock are UTD on rabies :(

PSA from Carrabassett Veterinary Services.

26/11/2024

One never knows what trouble your horses will find. . .
The horse made a full recovery. . .

25/11/2024

Hey all. . please get your local FD's involved with preplanning for a farm or other emergency at your facility. With hostile weather events becoming the normal routine and other related hazards it is imperative that fire and other emergency services know your farm's layout, animal and vehicle patterns, storage areas, etc. Many FD's will also help with risk reduction information and activities. . .
Thank you in advance from your local first responders.
https://www.tsln.com/news/barn-residence-destroyed-two-horses-dead-in-minnesota-equestrian-center-fire/

22/11/2024

Sadly, along with colder weather comes barn fire season! PREVENTION is key! Here is a great educational video on preventing barn fires . .
https://vimeo.com/ushja/review/637975453/c9e2ee0069

17/11/2024

Getting a little jump on field maintenance and some MAJOR rock moving by some MAJOR tractors. Would have been more fun to use the horses for the little stuff but the little tractor needed the workout too. . . Now to build a rock garden wall or two :)

14/11/2024

Thank you from your local first responders:

Learn how to prevent fires from starting by understanding common electrical terms while taking extra precautions to avoid tragedy on your homestead.

08/11/2024

For those regions with storm drains, excellent info on "small animal emergency rescue" :) 🦆🐥🐈

Brandi Phillips says considerations for safe animal rescue from storm drains, culverts and sewers have immediate and more far-reaching positive effects.

07/11/2024

OMG Game Changer! I knew I was saving some of those head just waiting for someone to invent this :)