Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

You don't train your horse to air scent, he trains you in how to read him.  There have been several scholarly papers and some articles published since the late 1980's

on this subject.  Most deal with allowing the prey survival instincts of the horse to be preserved or enhanced.  The horse must then communicate these inputs to the

rider.  An early peer reviewed paper presented at a veterinary conference is contained in a MSAR (and possibly ASTM) archive file, SFXE835.PDF and is approximately 16 pages long.  A later work, written for Perfect Horse should also be in the archives or can be read at www.sepasar.net.  A horse that has been desensitized usually has been so dumbed down that he is no longer a good trail mount, let alone a SAR horse.  It takes a lot of time getting to know your horse, not classes, to determine if air scenting, and it must be discriminating air scent works for you.

 

Working dogs from the saddle is traditional in some stock environments.  Working dogs doing herding is not uncommon, even today, with sheep and cows.

Depending on the level of civilization you are working in it may not be legal for you to practice working a dog off leash or from a horse or a vehicle. If you cannot practice

you cannot perform SAR tasks in the field.  Some of these restrictions may be in the dog laws, hunting laws or public lands restrictions

 

A specific citation based on the Pennsylvania and local federal park rules: PA law-- all dogs must be under the control of their owner or handler at all times. All dogs must be licensed, spayed or neutered (licensed breeding stock exempt from spaying/neutering), and have rabies shots.  Dogs may not be trained to hunt or fight. Certain breeds are defined as aggressive or vicious by law and get put down on the first bite.  PA Hunting regulations: Training of hunting dogs is strictly controlled as

to season, prey, and location. It is illegal to herd deer or disrupt nesting birds for instance. It is illegal to hunt from a vehicle of any kind, except disabled who may hunt from a wheel chair secured to the bed of a truck.  Park rules: If other than service animals are allowed in the park they are banned from all food vending areas, usually must be on a 6 foot or less leash, and be licensed and immunized.  Owners are responsible for removing dog waste from public spaces, keeping the animal out of drinking water sources, not disrupting others enjoyment of the park.  Certified service animals cannot be separated from their

client, even in a people ambulance, but generally dogs are prohibited from all public spaces, city, county. state, federal.

 

Thus it is difficult to train your dog to work a trail or track while you are on your horse without securing a special use permit or other understanding with the land manager.  There may be differences in your state between private and public land.  The only difference here is that you need a private landowner's permission to hunt,

while a public area will be posted  negatively.  If you think it might be easier using a bicycle or an ATV, it isn't.  Riding off a paved surface with rubber tires is strictly prohibited on all public surfaces except during a real emergency. Drills usually don't count because others use your presence as an excuse to enter closed areas..

 

On the other hand, if your horse, dog, pig, or whatever is used by a recognized SAR emergency response organization it is considered to be a police animal.  Harassment of a police animal is a 3rd degree felony, 24/7.

 

Irv Lichtenstein