Mounted search and rescue

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

Dear Anonymous,

Sounds to me like you ran across an under trained dog handler. You did fine.

Paul
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anonymous c/o Una Smith" <una.smith@att.net>
To: <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 11:41 AM
Subject: [MSAR] Trailing dog confused(?) by MSAR team


>
> [Busy day.  Here is another situation from someone who wishes
> to be Anonymous.  -Una]
>
>
> We did a mock search and my mounted team as always was sent out
> first for our hasty search and to set up security.  We found an
> article dropped by the subject and radioed it in.  A trailing
> dog team wasn't far behind.  I radioed for further instructions,
> asking if we should move on our original route or drop back and
> flank the trailing dog.  The radio cut in and out and I heard
> "go ahead".  Since I had asked the last question I thought the
> instruction was addressed to us.  This was my mistake.  I soon
> realized the mistake, stopped, turned and asked the trailing
> dog handler if they wanted me to stay put or return to not mess
> up the dog.  The handler did not answer, but then pulled the
> dog from our direction, thinking the dog was trying to follow
> our horses.  The dog then went the opposite way, on a long goose
> chase.  The handler later said horses should never be allowed
> to go ahead of any dog.  This I think is wrong;  a trailing dog
> should be able to distinguish horse scent from human.
>
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