Mounted search and rescue

["Patty Montoya" <riverrider@bak.rr.com>]

Someone questioned whether the horses heard or smelled the subject.  We 
don't really know.  He was in fact stationary for at least an hour or more 
and so the smell may have "built up".  More likely, he was fidgeting from 
the hypothermia.  I know the searchers who discovered him said he was very 
'agitated' and didn't want to be touched when they were attempting to dry 
him and help get him warm.  As someone mentioned, horses are very sensitive 
and we've all seen them flick their ears to the slightest rustle of leaves 
in a tree twenty yards away.  Although this can be irritating when you are 
trying to get their attention, it can be very helpful in discovering clues 
or evidence.  One of the first things I was taught when I joined the MSAR 
unit was to USE my horse, not just ride him.  That's why they call us a 
team.
As far as the water crossing...the subject was found within a hundred yards 
of the river, but it would have been eight miles over rough terrain to carry 
him out on a horse or a litter.  As I said, the weather didn't allow for a 
helicopter and Off road vehicles couldn't make it up through the snow and 
steep terrain.  (We sometimes think that ORV can go anywhere, but there are 
a lot of areas in the back country that are simple inaccessible, and this 
was one of them.)   So the river crossing, although not a great choice, was 
basically the only choice.  If the weather had been clear, or just raining, 
it probably would have been handled differently.  But the doctors later told 
us that his internal organs had already begun to shut down, so even with a 
helicopter, it probably would have been too late.  It has taught us that no 
matter how hard you train and try to cover every situation...some new twist 
can show up.
It probably should be mentioned that the subject had dementia and had told 
someone that he was going to a "pack station" in the area.  But he was 
dressed in summer clothing.  We have also learned through experience that 
dementia and alzheimer patients can really travel long distances.
Patty


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Una Smith" <una.smith@att.net>
To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 6:58 AM
Subject: [MSAR] Horse alerts


> Patty Montoya mentioned fresh snow on top of the subject's
> tracks.  Such conditions would be poor for tracking scent.
> But a subject in place for hours would be a good source of
> air scent.
>
> Horses also have acute hearing and vision.  All sensory
> systems (eyes, ears, nasal cavity) are larger in riding
> than in dogs, hence potentially more sensitive.  The main
> thin average MSAR horse lacks, that a SAR dog will have
> been selected for, is drive.  MSAR horses generally also
> lack training and experience in search.
>
> Una Smith
> New Mexico
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