Dr. Rebecca Husted
BS PhD President Technical Large Animal Rescue
In the world of animal emergency response, few names command as much respect, credibility, and admiration as Dr. Rebecca Husted, PhD.
A trailblazer in the niche but critical field of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER), Dr. Rebecca Husted has revolutionized how veterinarians, first responders, and animal owners prepare for and respond to emergencies involving large animals like horses, cattle, and camelids.
Her name is synonymous with innovation, rigor, and unwavering dedication to improving animal welfare and responder safety on a global scale.
From Backyard Gallops to Global Impact
Dr. Rebecca Husted’s journey into the realm of large animal rescue began not in a lab or lecture hall, but on horseback, in the backwoods of central Florida. Raised in an era when children could freely roam with their horses, her early years were filled with fast rides, lake swims, and a deep, instinctive bond with animals.
These formative experiences planted the seeds of curiosity and compassion that would later drive her to become a global authority on animal rescue.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Wofford College and a PhD in Animal Physiology from Clemson University, where her academic journey crystallized into a lifelong mission: to bring professionalism, science, and strategy to the chaotic world of large animal emergency incidents.
A Combat Veteran Turned Animal Rescue Pioneer
A decorated combat veteran and retired U.S. Army Signal Officer, Dr. Rebecca Husted served over 28 years, including deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. Her military background, marked by discipline and leadership, seamlessly complements her rescue work.
She brings battlefield-honed logistical skills and a fearless presence to training scenes that might otherwise intimidate even seasoned professionals.
These dual experiences, academic and military, positioned her to co-develop a framework that was sorely lacking in the animal rescue world: a standardized, scalable, and safe method for extricating large animals from dangerous situations such as trailer wrecks, barn fires, and mud entrapments.
Architect of a New Discipline: TLAER™
In 2008, Dr. Rebecca Husted co-authored and edited the first and still definitive textbook on Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, published by Wiley-Blackwell. The book remains the cornerstone of TLAER curriculum globally, used by fire departments, veterinary schools, and rescue agencies alike.
As President and Owner of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, Inc., Dr. Rebecca Husted has spent the last three decades tirelessly developing and delivering trainings that combine scientific rigor with real-world practicality. Her courses provide essential skills for veterinarians working in unpredictable environments, many of whom rely on equine vet CE for rural and mixed practice to stay current and confident in the field.
Her courses are anything but dry lectures, they’re immersive, hands-on experiences that incorporate live animals and custom-built mannequins to simulate high-risk rescue scenarios.
Dr. Rebecca Husteds influence is deeply embedded in national and international standards. She serves as a Principal and Subject Matter Expert on the NFPA 150 Animal Housing Standard committee, and has contributed to the development of NFPA 2500 and other protocols that shape the future of animal emergency response.
A Voice of Authority, A Heart for the Horse
What sets Dr. Rebecca Husted apart isn’t just her credentials or combat medals, it’s her authenticity. She’s known for her straight talk, her passion for “doing right by the horse,” and her ability to bridge the gap between science and empathy.
Whether she’s addressing a packed conference in Europe or teaching a small-town fire crew in Georgia, her message is the same: every animal life matters, and every responder deserves the tools to make rescues safer and more effective.
Her advocacy goes beyond the classroom. Dr. Rebecca Husted volunteers with law enforcement in Georgia, assisting in neglect and cruelty investigations. She also serves as a Public Information Officer and Fire Prevention Instructor for the City of Gray Fire Department, and actively contributes to community environmental initiatives.
The Woman Behind the Legacy
Off the stage, Dr. Rebecca Husted lives with her husband, Mark, a DEVOPS cloud computing engineer, and their five horses on a working farm in Macon, GA. She’s an avid birder, a proponent of low-stress livestock handling, and a natural horsemanship enthusiast.
Dr. Rebecca Husted’s rescue animals, including a famed medicine hat pinto mare named Aerial Painted Pants, have not only shared her life but have shaped her research, teaching, and training methods.
Her personal motto, inspired by Sun Tzu, encapsulates her approach to animal rescue:
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”
Why Dr. Rebecca Husted Matters
As animal rescue becomes an increasingly critical component of emergency response systems worldwide, Dr. Rebecca Husted stands as the undisputed pioneer of a discipline she helped create. Her work has saved countless animal and human lives, transformed outdated rescue methods, and empowered a new generation of responders to act with confidence, compassion, and competence.
Whether you’re a firefighter, veterinarian, horse owner, or emergency manager, one thing is clear: if you’re involved in large animal emergencies, you need to know the name Dr. Rebecca Husted.
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