Mounted search and rescue

[ALLEN SNYDER <allendana1@sbcglobal.net>]

It is really hard to generalize because it varies by state and even county how a mounted posse is utilized, but it seems ours has been defined and supported  the past 15 years by the chief of the Sheriff's department and those in leadership of the group.  We are overseen by a full-time sheriff, but our primary leaders are not sheriffs, nor are most of our members. Several years ago, we had no mounted unit in the Kansas City area and the nearest was over an hour away in Topeka, KS.  Once accepted, training involves a 6 week or 40 hour stimulus training class 2 evenings a week for 3 hours twice a week.  It was invaluable horsemanship training for both of our horses and myself and continue to fulfill the expectations of membership and value the friends made.

You are welcome to look at the Sheriff''s department website or SNSO for more info., but we are cross-trained to learn drill team/parade skills, are invited to parades and community events, have mandatory CPR and first aid certification, are exposed to obstacle-type courses, have to annually recertify on our horses and participate in a mock SAR exercise to be allowed to search mostly for evidence or lost persons; rarely "bad guys".  Our guidelines are modeled after those from MSAR.  We supply our own horses, trucks/trailers and are given liability coverage, training and excellent uniforms, coats and some tack. Horses are expected to have a current Coggins and basic immunizations.

A couple of years ago, our local police department authorized formation of a unit and it is a work in progress with 7 civilians and one police officer who was originally with animal control.  We are now under the supervision of an officer who is with the water rescue team as well as other responsibilities who was willing to learn to ride.  It may take awhile to gain the membership, skills and teamwork we would like, but our model is again from MSAR recommendations such as those in TROTSAR.  The difference is we are under the authority of the local police department and both groups expect we complete FEMA training for ICS or Incident Command.

I hope this helps.  Dana Snyder, Shawnee County Sheriff's Posse, OPMSAR (Overland Park Mounted SAR)

--- On Fri, 4/27/12, Una Smith <una.smith@att.net> wrote:

From: Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Sheriff's Posse versus MSAR
To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Friday, April 27, 2012, 11:17 AM

Chuck wrote:
>I was recently confronted with a statement on the Internet that  'all
>Sheriff's Posse are the same as MSAR.

Nope.  Some mounted sheriff's posse groups are parade / drill team /
ceremonial only.  I have contacted hundreds of sheriff's posse groups
over the years.  Some have nothing to do with horses.  Some operate
multi-million dollar rodeos.  Some do only parades and trail rides
and cookouts.  Some do search and rescue.  Some (very few) do it all.

    Una Smith
    New Mexico
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