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Pinelands Mounted Search and Rescue

Serving Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Ocean Counties.

Powered By: nj-horse.com

Why Search On Horseback?

Horses are faster, can carry more supplies to stay out longer, offer a higher viewing platform for searching, and provide a more rested rescue worker when a subject is found.  Horseback units are also used to transport needed equipment such as medical equipment, block and tackle, litters, and radio equipment.  Doctors or other personnel can be transported in a timely manner as needed.  For the rescue, many types of injuries do not prevent rescue on horseback.  This cuts recovery time and reduces the number of rescuers needed, since the subject does not have to be carried out of the field on a litter.

As the horse component of an overall team effort, radio relays can be quickly stationed, and trails quickly checked and blocked if needed.  Backpacks can be carried on an additional pack horse if needed.  Six 40 LB backpacks can be carried on a large pack horse if required, leaving the foot searchers more mobile and not as prone to exhaustion.

While not comparable to dogs for their air-scent capability, horses are quite aware of their surroundings and will alert at anything out of the ordinary, thus warning their rider who may be looking in another direction.

Trained searchers are used successfully as clue finders due to the elevation of the horseback searchers eyes above the ground, usually 8 or 9 feet,  and the mounted searcher is able to see further with fewer areas blocked by bushes, grass, etc.  Once a possible clue has been located, riders are able to tether the horses a short distance away so that the scene remains undisturbed for preservation purposes.