Milton buys horse mannequin for training

By Ralph Ellis

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Milton Fire Department has raised enough money to buy a 400-pound horse mannequin for training.

Milton has numerous horse farms. The fire department’s large animal rescue unit now uses live, sedated horses to practice rescuing horses in peril. That puts firefighters at risk and requires the presence of a veterinarian.

The city will purchase the mannequin from the Big Beasts Company in the United Kingdom, said city spokesman Jason Bolton. The city first planned to buy a mannequin named Lucky from Rescue Critters of Los Angeles for $11,000. After shopping around, Milton decided to buy the foreign model, named Randy, for $9,800.

Bolton didn’t know when the mannequin would be delivered.

The rescue unit still needs quick release marine shackles for its large sling, fleece pads for animal comfort and veterinary medical supplies. Citizens can make donations at any Wachovia bank, noting it’s for the animal rescue unit.