Mounted search and rescue

[<Jorene@CEOates.com>]

 

From: BC911

I am a K-9 handler, as you can see from my signature, but I am also an avid rider.I have been riding sense I was a kid. [...]

I have been interested in integrating my K-9's and horse SAR. It makes a lot of sense to be bale to search with both K-9 and equine to complement each other. [...] There have been several times that I needed to pack my dog into an area that was too far for her/him to travel without wearing her/him out first. By using my horse to pack her in and out, I can save the dog until we get to PLS, do the search and return to BOO. [...] Also there is no reason that the dog can't foot search while I ride. [...] Sage goes with me on rides all of the time. When she becomes tired or over heated, I motion for her to mount and she jumps up into the saddle. My horse is very comfortable with a dog (wolf) on his back.

Hi, Diane -

As Una mentioned, there is certainly opportunity for cross training where MSAR can provide transportation for SAR Dogs and handlers. Since you're a rider you have an opportunity that non-riders don't have. With your existing experience it sounds like you're already in a position to respond as Mounted SAR Dog. Assuming your horse would be considered safe / suitable and you have appropriate horse-related gear for mounted response, I suspect you could collaborate with the IC and local MSAR team to arrange for partnering with people from MSAR to ride with you on combined MSAR and SAR Dog missions.

 

You'd want to qualify as a horse-rider combo under MSAR standards. You'd also need to do some dog-horse desensitization with the local MSAR team, as well as make sure the riders have appropriate SAR Dog knowledge to be able to assist you and Sage as necessary. If you don't want to take your own horse, then you'd need to arrange for someone in MSAR to bring a spare mount ... and you and Sage would want prior training with every potential spare horse. Obviously the most reliable method is to use your own horse where you have a proven combination. ;)

 

You may find that with the additional gear for SAR / MSAR there is less space for Sage to ride behind the saddle. Some MSAR choose to wear search vests with lots of pockets to reduce what is carried on/behind the saddle, which may be a solution for you. Other methods for SAR Dog combined with MSAR for longer distances include using pack animals, teaching the dog to ride quietly in a pannier and the livestock to accept the dog as a passenger. One complication is needing the load to balance with equal weight on the opposite side. A better option is to create a pack layout designed for the dog to ride centered and stable on the pack animal's back, so the dog can be on or off without needing to rearrange the load.

 

As someone obviously into SAR Dogs, you might find it interesting to learn that horses can be taught for air scenting on command. www.airscentinghorse.com Terry is a contributor on MSAR-Riders. He is both MSAR and works an air scenting dog, and you can find more on the air scenting horse doing a search of the archives. Terry is not very available right now - active in the search for the missing co-ed in North Dakota - but I'm sure when he's available would be able to provide more input about Mounted SAR Dogs.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co, CA
SAR, MSAR, Swiftwater Rescue, US&R,
Technical Rescue, Cave Rescue,
Hasty Team, ICP
www.CEOates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT Program Coordinator
www.tk-cert.org