And now the NSW State Emergency Service is taking the reins to make sure Illawarra landowners have all the skills they need when things get a little hairy.

The organisation is hosting a series of information sessions demonstrating their ‘‘large animal rescue capabilities’’ and teaching people what to do when working with large animals in distress.

The organisation is hosting a series of information sessions demonstrating their ‘‘large animal rescue capabilities’’ and teaching people what to do when working with large animals in distress.

The star of the seminars is SESil – the life-size fake horse who puts his body on the line so landowners and SES crews can hone their skills of survival.

‘‘We hope those who attend the seminars will be better able to help their animals during severe weather or misadventure,’’ said SES community engagement co-ordinator Andrew McCullough.

‘‘We get called to help rescue large animals, especially when it floods and animals get stuck in dams or flood waters. It’s usually horses, cows, those sorts of large farm animals.

‘‘We live in a rural area and there are a lots of properties with animals in Unanderra, Berkeley, Kiama and Shellharbour so these workshops are about showing some of the capabilities we can offer,’’ he said.

‘‘Working with large animals is very dangerous, they get very distressed and quite unpredictable in these situations so we provide information on how to stay safe if an animal is in trouble and we go through the  rescue scenarios.’’

The sessions will be held at Shellharbour SES (127 Tongarra Road, Albion Park) at 7pm on Wednesday and Kiama SES (205 Terralong Street, Kiama) on August 12 at 7pm.

To register visit: http://bit.ly/nswseshorseworkshops.