Mounted search and rescue

["Paul Fleming" <pfleming@nwlink.com>]

Is there anyone out there who has trained horses to pull litter teams up steep slopes. Or has any experience with the practice. My unit has been asked to see if this is a practicle thing to add to our ability to assist other units. It does seem like a useful thing to be able to do. I would be interested in hearing other opinions, practices or theories on the subject.

 

To these ends we have started a few horses pulling tires and tires with people on them up gentle slopes. We found on river levies the horses seemed to be much more controlable then they were on flat ground looking down at the litter team and backing away. We also noticed pulling ahead up hill most horses tended to turn and watch the tow and were less gentle on the folks being towed. Thats as far as we have got to date and were wondering where do we go from here.

 

 This is new ground to us, but It's probably business as usual to a lot of units represented in this group. Anything will help, thanks.

 

 

Regards

 

Paul Fleming

Training Officer

PMSAR