Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

MSAR is actually a very good mix with ATV and off-highway motorcycles ... 
provided you train together and the terrain is appropriate. During an actual 
search you can use the motorized vehicle on point as a "sound attraction" 
and tracker, with their search view more specific to someone or something 
low or under brush, etc., since the driver is lower to the ground and has an 
advantage from that angle.

Point is followed a bit behind by MSAR riders calling the subject's name 
(look, listen, etc.), hopefully on mounts who will alert with a rider who 
knows how to read their mount. MSAR would ride the flank positions behind 
the wheeled vehicles on a wider path like a dirt road, looking for sign 
where the wheeled vehicle didn't drive, with a primary visual advantage from 
the higher angle in the saddle more for distance and over shurubs, etc.

This kind of partnering covers both the lower angle searching and the higher 
angle.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co SAR - Hasty Team ICP Team
www.ceoates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT
www.tk-cert.org