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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Drill Team or SEARCH HORSE

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Drill Team or SEARCH HORSE
  • Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:57:58 -0700

From: "Ms Teri Oliver" <terilynne3@yahoo.com>
Quarter horses are sprinters, so they are not well suited to do well for distance. So unless your searchs are limited to the traditional quarter of a mile area a quarter horse can run like heck in, anything above that distance chances are, you will be riding the wrong horse in an all day or more than one day search. <

We have steep, remote mountain terrain in our common search areas. The QH is normally an excellent MSAR horse coming from the breed background of long days of ranch work, etc., with bursts of speed as needed. Plenty of stamina and endurance, and usually good agility. All of our local MSAR ride QH / QH types or mules in our part of the Sierra Nevada.

Common for traditional MSAR is to rarely go faster than a walk. And faster walking horses isn't necessarily an advantage in SAR. Moving too fast can mean missing clues - the rider *really* needs to stay focused. Equine walk speed is generally at 3-5 mph. As management planning MSAR missions, we normally figure for a 3 mph search walk, which also allows for a few dismounts or short rest stops at the top of a steep pull. (3 mph is routinely used by local Backcountry Horsemen when they plan their trips into the backcountry with their pack strings.)

But natural stride at the walk is the key issue for walk speed more than breed type. Some can surprise you. Years ago we owned a foundation bred QH mare who was barely 14.2 (cow horse lines) who had a natural walk that left all the QH types, the few Arabians, Appys and the rare local gaited horses in the dust when all were simply walking on the trail. And that mare could go all day - sometimes 12 hour days - with no problem, then lead off again next day. And her agility was awesome on the mountain trails. We never used her for MSAR, preferring horses from our herd that walked at a more normal speed while searching. (We breed APHA, so the herd is Paints - QH with extra white - and QH.)

Our best ever MSAR and backcountry horse we retired from mountain use at age 24. An ex-working ranch horse, over a dozen years later that very reliable QH gelding still obviously looks for cattle (and whatever else) out on the trail, doesn't hesitate to go off trail as needed, and clearly communicates when he notices something. Willing to take on any obstacle, and he'd go strong for many days deep into the backcountry on pack trips. He also strolled along many parade routes over the years with the Posse. He earned his MSAR retirement. ;)

-Jorene






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