Mounted search and rescue

[Bdurham05201@aol.com]

We are based in Southwest Ohio.  Our terrain is often wooded, with hills.  We are often called after dark by the local police who spent all the day time hours searching with no luck then want us to go out at dark.

 

We have done night training, even considering and experimenting with different lights.  We have found the best lighting for mounted searching is glow sticks hung from the horses breast collar.  That offers him and us a soft continues light, avoiding causing night blindness by the lights being turned on and off or being flashed in or near his face, causing him the need for several minutes for his eyes to readjust only to have the light flash his way again.  Also the bright lights can cause confusion as you move along shinning into the trees and brush. You think you see things that arent their because you are making the shadows move.

 

We are selective on night searches.  We will only send the horse/riders on trails cleared for horses (don't want eyes poked out) although everyone has goggles to wear at night.  Or into fields or we keep the horses along the roads or walkways and send foot searchers in the brush.  Yes we have reflective gear (tail/leg wraps for the horses) as well as reflective stripes on our vests.

 

The glow lights help us to see along the trail and into the edge of the wooded brush area.  We watch our horses even closer at night for their response to anyone or thing they detect. Then if needed we can turn on our bright lights and search an area. 

 

Brenda Durham, Coordinator

East Fork State Park Volunteer Mtd S&R

bdurham05201@aol.com