Mounted search and rescue

[Yvette Rollins <hoosierhorsemen@yahoo.com>]

I firming agree that desensitization training is worth the time and effort. My horse has been desensitized to many things and most generally will not spook but two years ago I was at a Best of America Horseback ride and they were trying out a drone. It sounded like a massive number of horseflies were overhead and my horse did not like that. She couldn't get a handle on where it was coming from but it was overhead about 20 feet above us. I asked the guy running the drone to land and then take off from the ground where my horse could see what it was and the noise associated with it. After a few minutes she settled right down. Since then I have had one other experience with a drone while the horses were in horse camp and she didn't react except to look for it while the other horses that had not been around the drone reacted by rearing at the rail trying to get away from it.

 

Happy Trails,  

Yvette Anderson-Rollins, Indiana

812-797-4540

‘Tread Lightly upon the Land and Leave No Trace!’

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From: Laurie Hanahan <lhanahan@mindspring.com>
To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Drone desensitizing

Jeff -

I firmly believe that any desensitization training is not a waste of time or effort.  Whatever we do to keep ourselves, our mounts and others around us safe is important training. 

Laurie

On Dec 16, 2015 10:07 AM, Jeff Knight <kkls@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> I was curious to know if a drone was perceived differently from other scary objects.  A police horse in England was possibly spooked by a drone and fatally injured himself. (http://metro.co.uk/2015/11/10/police-hunt-owner-of-drone-that-caused-death-of-police-horse-5491847/)   One would think that a police horse would be desensitized to most things and would adapt readily to a new threat.  My neighbor buzzed my pasture with his new drone last month.  My SAR horse turned and challenged it but my other one quickly left.  The story made me wonder if a drone encounter is something we should specifically work on with our horses.
>
> Jeff
>
>  
>
> From: MSAR-Riders [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Laurie Hanahan
> Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 9:58 AM
> To: 'Mounted search and rescue' <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Subject: Re: [MSAR] Drone desensitizing
>
>  
>
> My first MSAR horse didn’t care about helicopters above or on the ground, became concerned only when they were at the point just above her head.  My current MSAR horse could care less wherever they are.  But since every horse reacts differently every day, it’s a good idea to desensitize to any situation you can.
>
>  
>
> I would think basic desensitization starting with objects around their body and above their head, twirling ropes, flags, balloons, etc.  Then move on to balsa wood airplanes (buy lots, they’re cheap and break easily), kites, etc.  Find an R/C club or drone club and ask to hang around wherever they are flying, usually a small private airfield or meadow.  Keep a safe distance, R/C planes and drones are known to have a mind of their own and can cause injury.  Work the horses as the planes fly, so they have something to think about besides the scary objects.
>
>  
>
> My husband flies his small drone over and around my pasture on a regular basis, so I have in-house training.  J
>
>  
>
> Good luck and good thinking to stay safe!
>
>  
>
> Laurie
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Laurie Hanahan
>
> TrotSAR Mounted Search & Rescue Team, Inc.
>
> www.trotsar.org
>
>  
>
>  
>
> From: MSAR-Riders [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Knight
> Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2015 8:16 AM
> To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [MSAR] Drone desensitizing
>
>  
>
> Good morning,
>
>  
>
> Either by way of law enforcement or recreational use, our horses will inevitably come in contact with drones.  There have already been some sad stories circulating about these encounters.  Has anyone devised a good process to desensitize horses to drones?
>
>  
>
> Jeff Knight
>
> North Georgia MSAR
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