Forward Assists

Simple Forward Assist Configuration

• Often a victim just needs some extra help to get up an incline – steep hill to get out of a hole, up a pool ramp, etc. vs. going high angle, with higher risk, and getting a lifting system in place

• The following are three configurations to accomplish this

• These were photographed without the third rescuer maintaining control of the victim to improve the photography of the webbing 

Using a 20 – 30 ft piece of wide webbing (at least 4 inches – we use 6) begin to advance the webbing across the victim’s back until it is even (best to 

mark the midpoint before attempting the rescue)

Notice both responders staying in the “safe” area 

around the front shoulder, and wearing helmets and gloves

Once centered on the back, the webbing is 

then advanced through the front legs of the victim toward the tow 

system

Additional tools, such as canes, poles, etc can be used to keep the responders from 

getting down under the horse in harm’s way

After pulling the webbing out, there is significant slack that can get caught around the victim’s leg, or even cause the victim to come out of the sling

By introducing a piece of 

webbing over the neck of the victim, we can support the webbing, and reduce the 

risks associated with this 

configuration

Lark’s Foot or Cinch Configuration

• While the previous simple forward assist produces minimal pressure on the rib cage, it can only be used for helping to advance the horse up an incline.  Too steep an incline and the victim could flip over and come out of the system.

• The Lark’s Foot or Cinch Configuration is a slip knot of webbing – it can be used as a forward assist, or in extreme last ditch effort where traditional slings can’t be attached, in a lifting system.  It does provide pressure to the run cage as a slip knot, and the widest webbing available should be used.

The Lark’s Foot or Cinch Configuration starts similar to the Simple Forward Assist, by 

advancing the webbing across the victim’s back

Instead of advancing the webbing to its midpoint on the victim’s back, instead one end is 

advanced through the eye of the other end of the 

webbing, creating the slip knot

It is noteworthy that while in these pictures we are using commercially produced lifting webbing, nylon tow straps, or even old fire hose with the ends sewn over will work

“Swiss Seat” Configuration

• The “Swiss Seat” Configuration is more complicated to put on, but is a really strong configuration, without the slip knot tightening effect of the Lark’s Foot or Cinch Configuration, and with the extra wrap distributes the load across the surface area of the victim

• It can be accomplished with 20ft of webbing, but on a large horse or cow is better accomplished with a 25 or 30ft piece of webbing

This configuration starts with the midpoint at the 

victim’s chest – not across the back like with the first two systems.  

The responder in the red shirt holds the midpoint against the victim’s 

chest, while advancing her webbing across the 

victim’s back

The responder in the white shirt will similarly advance his webbing across the back of the 

victim

In this exploded view, you can see that point “1” is the midpoint of the webbing, point “2” 

is the end of the webbing from 

responder in red that is about to be 

advanced over the midpoint, along with point “3” which is the end point from the responder in white after he advanced it across the victim’s 

back1

2

3

The final tightened Swiss Seat Configuration has the midpoint on the chest, 

acting as a bridge holding the webbing going back to 

the haul system

Essentially start with the midpoint at the chest, up and over the back, down 

the sides, and slip between the victim and the starting 

point, out to the haul system

Forward AssistsSimple Forward Assist ConfigurationUsing a 20 – 30 ft piece of wide webbing (at least 4 inches – we use 6) begin to advance the webbing across the victim’s back until it is even (best to mark the midpoint before attempting the rescue)��Notice both responders staying in the “safe” area around the front shoulder, and wearing helmets and glovesOnce centered on the back, the webbing is then advanced through the front legs of the victim toward the tow system��Additional tools, such as canes, poles, etc can be used to keep the responders from getting down under the horse in harm’s wayAfter pulling the webbing out, there is significant slack that can get caught around the victim’s leg, or even cause the victim to come out of the slingBy introducing a piece of webbing over the neck of the victim, we can support the webbing, and reduce the risks associated with this configurationLark’s Foot or Cinch ConfigurationThe Lark’s Foot or Cinch Configuration starts similar to the Simple Forward Assist, by advancing the webbing across the victim’s backInstead of advancing the webbing to its midpoint on the victim’s back, instead one end is advanced through the eye of the other end of the webbing, creating the slip knotSlide Number 10“Swiss Seat” ConfigurationThis configuration starts with the midpoint at the victim’s chest – not across the back like with the first two systems. ��The responder in the red shirt holds the midpoint against the victim’s chest, while advancing her webbing across the victim’s back��The responder in the white shirt will similarly advance his webbing across the back of the victimIn this exploded view, you can see that point “1” is the midpoint of the webbing, point “2” is the end of the webbing from responder in red that is about to be advanced over the midpoint, along with point “3” which is the end point from the responder in white after he advanced it across the victim’s backThe final tightened Swiss Seat Configuration has the midpoint on the chest, acting as a bridge holding the webbing going back to the haul system��Essentially start with the midpoint at the chest, up and over the back, down the sides, and slip between the victim and the starting point, out to the haul system