If you can knock five or 10 minutes off each run, you pay off the extra cost many times over. Or in a university hospital, take five or 10 minutes off each time so you save labor costs of technicians. However, the Anderson sling isn't necessary in most rescues, as airlifts are costly and comparatively rare. Another sling has been developed by Tim Collins of Santa Barbara, Calif., and is made of fire hose material. The Liftex sling, no longer manufactured, is another web sling still in use by some emergency groups.
All pieces attach to the belly piece, which can be attached to a hoist to lift the horse.
The Liftex sling is much simpler than the Anderson sling. Rescue personnel can also use rope or straps to make a temporary harness for dragging a stuck horse. It is used to assist an animal up a steep hill, drag it out of the mud, extricate it out of a trailer, or to assist it to its feet from a recumbent position. The strap allows the animal to help itself. In many situations, it is better to use the animal's strength to your advantage.