Mounted search and rescue

["T'mi Finkle" <tfinkle@erols.com>]

Hi Bob,

This is a brief overview about one of our most complex search and rescue (SAR) missions our team has had in recent years.

Via a response request from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM Mission VA-070-11), the TROTSAR Mounted Search and Rescue Team was dispatched to help find a missing eight year old autistic child on Tuesday October 25^th. The first TROTSAR Member arrived on the scene at 1745 hours on Tuesday October 25^th , at the Incident Command Post (ICP) in Doswell Virginia  A MSAR base camp was established at 1200 hours on Wednesday at the Virginia State Fair Grounds, Meadow Event Park Stables (stalls 1 through 8, at no cost to our team members).  A total of 12 mounted searchers responded to this mission and two dispatchers provided around the clock support. Since 12 hour deployment periods were implemented no pack animals were used, but NASAR type SAR packs were carried by mounted SAR responders.

A variety of TROTSAR members remained on the scene throughout the entire mission, providing around the clock coverage until 1500 hours on Friday October 28^th. Total of 359 volunteer hours were committed for this mission and 26 search tasks and assignments were performed by TROTSAR responders.  Assignments included; mounted tasks, ground SAR tasks, provided task briefings to emergent volunteers and planning section duties at the ICP. This mission had a happy ending with the missing subject “Robbie Woods” being found alive on Friday afternoon, just a couple of hours before a winter storm was to impact the region.

 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

Overview about Mounted search and Rescue (MSAR) teams:

 

A wise search manager will not overlook the use of searchers mounted on horseback as a resource.  This is particularly true if there are wilderness areas in the vicinity.  But even relatively urban areas can have large parks or nearby farmland that can become search sites, and mounted searchers can be deployed there very effectively.

 

At the outset, we need to make the distinction between trained searchers on horseback and a local horseback rider who volunteers to help on a particular search.  While we will discuss the latter later on, our primary focus will be on the former:  A fully equipped team of trained searchers mounted on horses that have been specially selected and trained for search work.

 

 

Advantages

 

The horses themselves are valuable as searchers.  Like dogs, horses have highly developed senses of hearing and smell, and they have even better eyesight than dogs.  These special skills can be put to good use in a search situation, even though the roles of dogs and horses differ greatly.  A search dog's training is based upon his forebear's instinctive skills as a searcher of prey; as a prey animal, the horse has survived over the centuries by its ability to detect a predator and escape before being eaten.  Therefore, while a horse cannot be expected to consciously search in the same way that a trained air scent or tracking dog does, he is instinctively very aware of his surroundings at all times and will alert on anything out of the ordinary, especially the presence of another animal -- or a person! -- and he will usually detect such a presence well in advance of the rider.  So, a good search rider will investigate anything that attracts the horse's attention.

 

A mounted searcher is able to carry on the horse food, water, first aid and survival equipment.  The rider's energy will not be exhausted as quickly as a ground searcher carrying such equipment in a backpack.  This advantage is especially important in rough or mountainous terrain or in extreme weather conditions since the rider may be able to search more effectively for a longer period.

 

 

Applications In Search Operations

 

The ability of the horse and rider to cover large areas quickly can be used to advantage as part of a hasty team.  For example, mounted searchers could do a perimeter sweep, cover known trails, ridges and drainages, locate unmapped trails, set up trail and road blocks, check track traps (or if the ground is hard or dry, create traps on major trails and area access points), etc.  The key thing is to make good use of this highly mobile resource.

                                          

But searching on horseback is not necessarily limited to confinement techniques.  Mounted searchers can engage in slow, methodical searching, as well.  While horses are usually used to cover trails, mounted searchers can bushwhack to cover assigned search areas unless extreme terrain conditions make it unsafe to leave the trail.  They can even be used as grid searchers in fields and open woods.  For example, they may well be deployed to cover large open areas as an alternative to aircraft or dogs.  Particularly in the case of brush or tall grass, a team of three or four mounted searchers can perform multiple sweeps quicker than ground searchers -- and more effectively, because of their elevated perspective.

 

 

Ms. Tomi` Finkle, CEM, SARTECH II, KB3MKI
Chief
TROTSAR Mounted Team
www.trotsar.org
1-888-MSAR911 (for 24/7 Emergency Dispatch only)
301-412-5249 (cell)

 

Mission Statement: TROTSAR is a non-profit, incorporated all volunteer based, mounted search and rescue squad. The Team's primary purpose is to assist federal, tribal, state and local government agencies by providing certified search & rescue personnel mounted on horseback, for lifesaving missions of people who are missing, lost, stranded and/or the rescuing of victims in wilderness, rural, suburban or Wide Area Search missions within the Mid-Atlantic region.

 

 

---

From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Bob Foster
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 10:50 PM
To: Mounted search and rescue
Subject: Re: [MSAR] TROTSAR on the news

 

I am a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department MSAR team.  First did you find the child?

 

I am in charge of training for our unit.  I am always looking for an opportunity to simulate the facts and circumstances of real MSAR events as well as incorporating new training ideas.

 

Could you send me so info that I could possibly use for training?

 

What were the circumstances on this search and rescue and what signs/tracks were found by MSAR?

 

How was your MSAR beneficial in this operation?

 

When you are out on 12/12 shifts, what do you do as far as food is concerned and do you sleep in your trailers or some other shelter?  for you and your horse.

 

Do you use a pack animal?

 

What would you say are the mandatory items to carry?  For you as a rider and then for you to give first aid? 

 

I discourage the use of chest lamps for the horse, I think it ruins nigh vision, but I have some team members that swear by the light.  What is  your opinion?

 

Thanks for any help.  We are relatively untested in any operation that has gone more than 12 hours so your opinion is greatly appreciated.

 

Deputy Bob Foster

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Mounted Enforcement Detail/Training

Cell Phone: 661.309.7399

Work Email: rkfoster@lasd.org

 

Personal email: bfostermed@gmail.com

On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 4:24 PM, T'mi Finkle <tfinkle@erols.com> wrote:

Two of my team members were interviewed by NBC 12, http://www.nbc12.com/story/15884231/ha

 

TROTSAR Mounted Team has been onsite since Tuesday working two 12 hours shifts daily

 

T’mi

 

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