Our Affiliations and Response Partners

Richard, Justin's brother, is a North Carolina native and has spent his lifetime in or around the Johnston County area.  He worked alongside Justin growing up on a dairy farm then branched out into the emergency services world as a chosen career.  Richard has been involved in the fire service since 1988 and the emergency medical service since 1991.  Currently he is a certified OSHA Instructor, and an ASHI Instructor.  He currently works full-time with a heavy-rescue and recovery towing and transportation company that has multiple offices throughout eastern NC.  Richard spent several years working in EMS as a Paramedic and volunteering with local fire rescue departments prior to making a career change.  Richard, along with his son Christopher, are the Team Leaders for the 4HLAS Johnston County Large Animal Response Unit which is based in Clayton, NC.  

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE - TEAM LEADER

Kelli grew up in Nebraska and began her love affair with horses though the 4-H program. This eventually lead her to get a B.S. in Animal Science specializing in Equine Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  While she was in college she was a member of the Equestrian Team, Horse Judging Team and an avid member of the UNL Rodeo Association.  Her show experience ranges from riding in a variety of western events to carriage driving, along with a few years of hunter under saddle. Kelli is certified in Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue through TLAER, Inc. and has attended several other large animal technical rescue courses with 4HLAS.  She is also certified in Animal Search and Rescue (ASAR) Floodwater / Swiftwater Animal Rescue.  Kelli works full-time as a Veterinary Assistant for Foundation Equine Clinic (our Veterinary Advisor's Clinic) where she has been since 2013.  

Since 2015, she has been a Board of Directors member for Sandhills Horse Rescue which is a local non-profit equine rescue organization.  Kelli is a member of the North Carolina Veterinary Response Corps where she can assist with local incidents and natural disasters upon request through the Emergency Programs Section of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Veterinary Division.

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE - TEAM LEADER

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE ATTENDANT 

Christopher joined our team in the early days.  Being Justin's nephew and in emergency services himself it seemed like a natural transition and he has truly been an asset to our team.  Christopher has been involved in emergency services since 2014 and is currently a Firefighter / EMT with a county fire-rescue department.  He joins our team with limited equine and livestock experience but he continues to learn through training courses with 4HLAS and other reputable companies, hands-on experiences, and interactions with equine and livestock owners and professionals. He has been certified through TLAER, Inc for Large Animal Technical Rescue at the Operations Level and he has attended the B.U.L.L. (Big Useful Livestock Lessons) training course instructed by Code 3 Associates.  Christopher, along with his father Richard, are the Team Leaders for the 4HLAS Johnston County Large Animal Response Unit which is based in Clayton, NC.  

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE - TEAM LEADER

Stefanie entered the horse world like many people, she was given a pony at the age of 7.  Since then, she has been in all aspects of the equestrianism. After high school, she joined the US Army and functioned as a combat medic. While in the Army, she was stationed in Germany and had the privilege of training in classical dressage and show jumping throughout Europe. In 2011, the military brought her here to the Sandhills region of North Carolina where she currently lives and works. 

Stefanie has been in Emergency Medical Services for over 24 years and is currently functioning as a paramedic and an Associate Professor at Sandhills Community College where she teaches the paramedic program. She is a Level II paramedic instructor, a PALS, BLS, PHTLS, and ACLS instructor. Stefanie graduated with her Bachelors degree from Western Carolina University in Emergency Management and will soon graduate with her Masters in Emergency Health Education.  

Stefanie received training in large animal technical rescue in 2021 and joined the team shortly thereafter.

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE DRIVER / ATTENDANT

*HUMAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SERVICES - TEAM LEADER 

Susan has been involved with equines, off and on, for over 50 years. She drove carriages competitively for many years before becoming a Technical Delegate for the American Driving Society. She completed TLAER, Inc. (Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue) training in 2016, along with large animal technical rescue training sessions with Tori and Justin in 2018, and just finished Floodwater / Swift Water Animal Rescue training in 2019. 

Never stop learning! 

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE ATTENDANT 

Bryan has been working in emergency services all his adult life. Over the last 30+ years he has served in a variety of roles, ranging from Paramedic to the position with the City of Durham Fire Department where he served as a Captain on their Technical Rescue Team prior to his retirement in 2023. During his extensive time in emergency services, Bryan has been a part of various teams, in a range of locations, including wilderness search and rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, and Water Rescue. Bryan has also been deployed on technical rescue operations to several states on the East Coast. Bryan has always had a soft spot for animals and has been known to rescue a few when working during hurricane deployments, but most recently learned about horses and horse behavior when he met his wife, Anita Quinn, who is a scientist by trade and professional horse trainer and competitive 3-Day Eventer. It was complete “training by immersion.” Together they run a small horse farm on the side, specializing in retraining off the track thoroughbreds for a new life in the equestrian world.

 Matching a solid technical rescue background with a newfound understanding of horse behavior, Bryan found himself attending a large animal technical rescue training course, where he felt completely at home. Bryan has had the opportunity to assist with several large animal emergency rescue calls and assist with training courses. In his spare time, Bryan competes as a professional archer at the international level and enjoys spending time with his family and friends. 

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

Shayla was born in the dairy state of Wisconsin.  Growing up, her grandfather instilled a love of God’s creatures and gifted her with a Shetland pony on her 6th birthday. She spent most of her youth outdoors in the backwoods or on a farm.  Shayla spent her youth actively involved in 4H with the horse and dairy club.  As she entered the workforce, she worked for a local small animal vet cleaning kennels which led to her becoming a vet assistant and then transitioned from small animals to working with cattle and horses.

In the years that followed, Shayla also worked on an Arabian ranch where her specialty was working with the horses from birth to 2 years…ground training and manners for contact with farriers, vets, and other people. She showed locally in halter, western pleasure, and trail disciplines and continued with her love of large animals and educating youth as a dairy 4H leader for 15+ years.

She purchased a small farm in Florida and with adjoining family ran Angus, Brahma, and Santa Gertrudis beef cattle.  In the late 90s, she moved to NC and in 2006 began her career in human emergency services.  

In 2007, Shayla became a paramedic in Johnston County, NC where ironically Richard (another team member) was one of her preceptors and later a fellow instructor.  In 2019 she moved to Western NC and joined Henderson County Rescue Squad with 12 years of experience as a paramedic.  She continues to further her public safety education earning her Hazmat, General TR, Ropes TR, and most recent Swiftwater TR certifications along with several others.  In 2022 she attended her first large animal technical rescue training course and has since joined the team.  Shayla is very excited to combine her love of teaching, livestock and technical rescue into this realm.  Safety is paramount in all things!

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE ATTENDANT

*HUMAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SERVICES 

 Growing up in the horse industry, Tim has had exposure to multiple disciplines and aspects of the business. His family, from the Long Island area in New York, has been involved since the early 1900s, from Hunter/Jumper, 3 Day Eventing, Combined Driving and more, both nationally and internationally. Tim’s experience ranges from large horse farm operation and management, to national horse transportation to working extensively at well known equine events around the country. Tim spent several years working as the Sales Manager and Designer at EquiSpirit Horse Trailers, which is well known for providing some of the most feature rich and safest horse trailers in the industry. Using his experience and background, he can predict possible issues and concerns with trailers, and work to design trailers that will be as safe as possible for the horses, and their owners, in transit and in the event of an accident. 

Tim is TLAER certified and in addition to his previous work with other “horse ambulance” services, has been working with 4HLAS for several years as an Animal Technical Rescue Emergency Responder as well as a driver and standby attendant at equine events. Recently he has also begun assisting at the Large Animal Technical Rescue training courses.  

With a lifelong love for horses, who know what else he’ll do but the one thing that he has always lived by, something that his grandfather used to quote,  “There is something about the outside of a horse, that is good for the inside of a man.”  Currently Tim, along with his wife Gwen, own Love2Fly Drone Works ( https://www.love2fly.us/ ), a drone service company that specializes in aerial photography and video along with assisting on search and rescue missions for lost companion animals and livestock. 

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Shannon has been around horses her whole life, but just recently joined with 4Hooves Large Animal Services after attending large animal rescue training courses with them in 2018 and 2020.  Shannon has a deep love and understanding of the equine species from years of owning and riding.  Shannon worked at the Fort Bragg Riding Stables and the Animal Hospital of Fayetteville before entering into her career at the local Sheriff’s Office.  Shannon is 15 year veteran with the Sheriff’s Office as a detective and is part of the Search and Rescue team. Shannon is a member of the NC Horse Council along with the Border Belt Horse Association, out of Parkton NC and Lumberton, NC. As a member of the Border Belt Horse Association, Shannon helps with putting on horse shows at the Southeastern NC Ag Center.  During Hurricane Florence of 2018, Shannon was able to use the skills she had learned from a prior large animal rescue training course taught by Tori and Justin to rescue horses that were stuck due to flood waters. Shannon has always been eager to learn new ways to help with equine and livestock safety. 

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE DRIVER / ATTENDANT 

Jennifer began riding horses when she was about 5 years old with one of her friends out on her farm. She then started taking lessons and playing polocrosse where she competed all over the US,  along with playing with international exchange players. Jennifer spent her teenage years living on a farm, working with goats, pigs, chickens, and sheep.  Although she still likes the farm life, and currently has several animals on her small farm, something had to pay the bills so her interest in emergency services led her to a career as a paramedic where she has worked for almost a decade.  Jennifer has known the McLeods for a few years now and attended a LAR training course in 2023 and it was after that course that she joined the team to assist with training courses and emergency responses.

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE DRIVER / ATTENDANT

*HUMAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SERVICES

Nancy hit the ground knowing horses. She started her first colt at age 11 under tutelage of USHJA Hall of Fame member Helen Kelley.  While Nancy was in high school she served as Interim Director of Riding for Wilson College, an Event oriented program.  After graduation, she attended Penn State University where she successfully rode on the Penn State Intercollegiate Team.  Nancy also worked full time at Eastwood Farms training and teaching young hunters and their owners.  Upon graduating PSU, Nancy became Director of Riding for a hunt seat based program at prestigious Davidson College that boasted several intercollegiate national champions.  For a decade Nancy managed the barn, horses and 75 riding lessons per week along with coaching college riders competing in area A rated hunter and jumper horse shows.  Throughout the years, Nancy started, showed and coached Hunters and Jumpers to national awards.  Nancy was also 2-time reserve champion in the International  Hunter Futurity with horses she started and rode exclusively to prepare for the event and life thereafter.  She also spent years working as head colt barn manager, handler and shipper in Lexington KY for Blue Grass Thoroughbred Services, along with handling stock for Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton and Saratoga sales.  She returned to  Southern Pines NC, where she began riding at age 15 for Hall of Fame hunter rider Patricia Heuckeroth, to train horses in the summer months.  She eventually operated a show and sales barn with Brian Lenehan while in Southern Pines.  Nancy also managed Plan B Event stables which produced winners at all levels.  In 2006 Nancy moved a mountain top in West Virginia where she lives with her mule, dog and cat.  Her forte' is unlocking all potential in ANY animal regardless of history, behavior and prior experiences.

Nancy continues to teach behavioral and riding clinics by appointment all over  the United States. “Ride better on willing partners” is her motto. 

 Nancy joined 4HLAS in 2020.

TEAM POSITION(S):

*EQUINE AMBULANCE DRIVER / ATTENDANT

 Noelle has been in emergency services for 15 years and is currently with the Fayetteville Fire Department where she serves as a lieutenant in the training division as well as being a member of NC Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 9.  Although she's always loved horses and used to take lessons as a young child, she did not start riding again until she was an adult.  Since then, she's worked on horsemanship and building a strong foundation of knowledge in the equine industry  and currently rides and shows throughout Central NC.  She's been working with 4HLAS since 2022 and is excited to be able to contribute to the team!  

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE ATTENDANT

*HUMAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SERVICES 

Cameron grew up in Virginia and began her adventure in the world of horses at the age of 11. After developing a love of both riding and driving equine, Cameron became heavily involved in the 4-H Horse Program. She remained involved throughout her high school years where she developed her horsemanship skills. Cameron became an accomplished member of the State Horse Judging Team and worked with several other educational contests. Cameron has owned and cared for large equine, including donkeys and mules, as well as a variety of livestock for several years. During this time she developed a long-lasting passion for animal welfare, safe management practices, and training, as well as emergency prevention, preparedness, and response.

When Cameron isn't busy running her successful business, Topline Equestrian LLC (www.toplineequineva.com) or assisting with the rehabilitation, medical care, transportation and training of various rescue animals, she can be found furthering her education in the handling and care of animals by volunteering at local non-profit animal organizations. Cameron attended her first Large Animal Technical Rescue course with 4HLAS in 2022 and is excited to continue working in the field of human & animal safety.  

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE ATTENDANT

Emma was born in Pennsylvania and moved to NC in 2004 when she was 7. For Christmas that year her parents got her riding lessons and she has been obsessed with equines and the equestrian world ever since. Growing up she worked for several different barns as well as at a local vet, then at the age of 19, she bought her first horse and has continued to learn so much more. Emma started out wanting to become a veterinary technician, but while in school she realized it was not what she wanted to pursue. Her focus shifted and she finished her Associate in Science degree.  Emma then started as a working student at an FEI dressage barn where she was able to learn more about riding and caring for horses. While working there she was introduced to the Emergency Medical Services and all that EMS encompasses.  Emma realized that was her dream job and had to leave the barn in order to go back to school to pursue her career in emergency services.  She finished school in December 2019, joined the EMS field as an EMT in May 2020, went back to school to obtain her EMT-Paramedic education, became a NC State and Nationally Registered certified Paramedic, and currently works as a EMT-Paramedic.  Emma never knew about LAR until her EMS Director sent an email to employees about a Large Animal Technical Rescue  class that was going to be offered nearby. Emma signed up thinking it could be very helpful in her personal life and quickly fell in love with large animal technical rescue and wanted to know more.  

Emma started assisting 4HLAS in 2023 providing first aid / human medical response coverage and will also be assisting with equine ambulance services, emergency rescue responses, and training courses.  She is excited to combine her love of emergency services and large animals to help both humans and animals in need. 

Emma recently moved to Aberdeen NC (Hoke Co) and built a farm where she can finally live the dream and keep her horses at home. 

TEAM POSITION(S):

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

*LARGE ANIMAL TECHNICAL RESCUE TRAINING COURSE - ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

*EQUINE AMBULANCE ATTENDANT

*HUMAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SERVICES 

With over 38 years of equestrain experience, Anita specializes in re-training of "Off The Track Thoroughbreds" for second careers.  Anita originally fell in love with the Thoroughbred when working as a exercise rider on a training track on the South Side of Chicago, catch riding multiple TB's per day, in addition to showing her own OTTB in Hunter/Jumpers.  After 3 yrs of track work, Anita went off to college, where she rode Hunters for the SIUC Intercollegiate Equestrian Team, whereby she was introduced to the sport of Eventing and Dressage.  For the last 23 years, with a passion for both disciplines, she has re-trained, shown, and sold numerous OTTB's for the sport of Eventing, Dressage, Hunters, Jumpers, and/or Fox Hunting.  Anita has competed up to Preliminary level Eventing, 3rd Level Dressage, and rides with Red Mountain Hounds Fox Hunting club.  Recently, Anita has competed in The TB Makeover, a national OTTB Trainer's competition, whereby the Trainer has 1 year to produce a sport horse from track to sport, where she placed in the top 10 in the Nation in the discipline of Dressage, 2022.  Anita continues to train and compete her own OTTB's extensively in both Eventing and Dressage with a focus on establishing a second chance career for as many OTTB's as possible.  Anita was introduced to the horse rescue world through her Husband, Bryan, and attended a course through 4Hooves Large Animal Services, LLC.  With a love for horse behavior and animal welfare, common ground was quickly establish with Justin, Tori and the team.  As such, Anita became a horse behavior advocate for the Team in rescue operations.