Mounted search and rescue

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

E.S. wrote:
>I'm talking about a stretcher that can be install on the saddle with a 
>person on it..

Una Smith responded:
Mule litter.  This was a piece of pack equipment the French army 
used effectively, that was tried by other armies circa 1900 with
generally bad results.

The thing is, these litters were suitable for use only in terrain
where today we would send a motor vehicle. [...]

============================
I think Una is referring to a stretcher rigged between 2 equine with the
poles at about stirrup height? It was used in WWI and sometimes even
designed to carry 2 litters, one above the other.

For example: http://tinyurl.com/WWI-2mule-litter  

Or Una may be referring to the "litters attached to pack animals" with one
litter on each side for somewhat balanced weight. If not, which option is
she mentioning?

Some neat Civil War history regarding litters is on
http://www.civilwarhome.com/woundedtransportation.htm  

The "poles with litter between 2 animals" isn't real suitable for more
challenging terrain. However, in locations where it might be used, there may
also be a ban on wheeled vehicles. So folks with potential for gentler turns
could certainly consider this option. A modern version designed to provide
patient support and still be collapsible and portable distributed between
riders behind their saddles would be an interesting project. This could be
designed with a harness to support the pole attachment somehow draped over
the saddle, potentially with an option for riders on each mount.

To my knowledge nothing exists designed to mount a litter above a riding
saddle. There are litters (like Stokes) that can be rigged on top of a pack
saddle - sometimes using extended pack saddle forks -  but the majority of
MSAR aren't trained to use a pack saddle. Also, an inherent problem with the
litter on the back of the riding horse (or mule) is the height normally
makes it more difficult to provide additional care once that person in the
litter is loaded for packing out. The shorter pack mule would be a better
option, assuming that animal can pack the weight of the load. 

Some backcountry packers are valuable assets for the pack animal carrying
the body bag in the litter above the pack saddle.

Some old packers - or those who learned from old time packers - might
remember the pack saddles with a special swiveling base on top. You could
run something like a long wood beam attached at one swiveling base and a
second one, with the swivel allowing more independent movement by the pack
mules for getting around turns and such. A more contemporary version I found
online in use is on http://tinyurl.com/PackSaddleSwivel This concept would
carry the litter higher and again requires 2 animals. But if the creek is
running high ... ;-)

Another option might be the travois gone contemporary and more horizontal,
perhaps a lightweight litter with detachable wheels and poles going to a
harness rigged over the saddle. Essentially a cart made from a more
stokes-type litter when assembled, perhaps with a bit wider wheel stance to
increase stability. While this would allow for some basic shock absorption
with the wheel system, once again collapsibility and portability behind
several team member saddles may be an issue - litter, poles, wheels -
especially carrying wheels. Also you may need special permission to use a
wheeled litter in areas with "no wheels" restrictions. 

However, with this kind of rigging someone might ride the still saddled
"cart horse" while others ride beside or behind the wheeled stretcher so you
don't need to move slower to accommodate a team member hiking. And in winter
there is potential to trade the wheels for sleigh / sled runners, a sled /
sledge might be an option in some terrain and weather, etc.

Trying to find some potential for using saddled (not pack saddled) mounts
with litters, I keep circling around to the litter between 2 equine. If a
contemporary version is very lightweight yet strong, and packs easily behind
a couple of saddles, this may be an option for some. Collapsible poles would
need to be long enough so the equine in the rear has enough visibility to
not stumble, which again makes the length a potential problem with the 2
animals plus litter in between - if at stirrup height - a challenge to turn.


In some instances a non-rigid stretcher may be suitable provided the poles
stay separated. 
This foldable Navy litter appears rather portable and versatile, including
the option of sliding in a backboard, fairly straightforward for packaging
and has handy built-in features  http://tinyurl.com/RescueSleeve-Navy  but a
method to suspend securely between the equine would be needed and someone
would need to pack around a backboard ... assuming a backboard is needed. 

I suspect finding a suitable portable folding spine-board might be a
challenge to pack behind the mounted searcher on a saddled horse. This is
the closest I've come doing some fast online searching
http://tinyurl.com/SpaceSavBackbrd . 

The same portability problem on a saddled horse applies to the 2-piece
stokes-type stretchers.  And a SKED isn't quite rigid enough without a
backboard, isn't easily packed behind a saddle, and is not very comfortable
for the patient wrapped up like a hot dog in a bun for multiple hours.

About all I've come up with is the mounted team can generically carry a
stretcher designed to carry between 2 horses, but may need someone to pack
in a backboard later if needed. Or, pony a spare saddled mount carrying  the
various medical and litter equipment in over-the-saddle panniers . which is
easier to learn than working with traditional pack saddles. 

Of course, with any of this the horses and riders need extra training. The
advantage of the transport in the saddle is - for MSAR with solid and
reliable mounts - there isn't much additional training needed.

I've been talking myself into and out of different ideas for a while now.
;-/ 
What sort of thoughts do others have? 
Also, is anyone aware of someone already designing / building any kind of
contemporary litter system for use with equine?

- - - - - -
Jorene Downs
SAR & CERT
Mounted SAR
www.ceoates.com/msar