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Training Underway For Mounted Search And Rescue Team

Bonnie Phillips

Saddle Up!

March 7, 2010

In Texas, or Oregon, or Colorado, when someone goes missing and the terrain isn't suited to a vehicle search, a mounted search and rescue unit is often called into action. Texas alone has 102 mounted units in 254 counties.

In all, 42 of the 50 states have some form of mounted search and rescue units.

Soon, you can add Connecticut to that list.

The First Company Governor's Horse Guards has begun the training process that will result in establishing the state's only certified equine search and rescue team. Twenty-three troopers have graduated from a three-day ground search management course, the first step in establishing the team.

The course, taught by a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer and three Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue instructors, showed troopers how to manage a search and rescue operation and divide up a search area, and described behaviors typical of lost people.

"The First Company has always been available for search and rescue missions," said Major Michael Downes, the guard's commanding officer. "This training and certification process takes us to a much higher level of knowledge and capability."

Troopers must undergo 20 hours of land navigation instruction, first aid and CPR certification, training in crime scene preservation and more class and field instruction before they'll be fully certified as a search and rescue team. They must also be certified in large-animal first aid and must be evaluated by the nearest certified equestrian search and rescue team. Massachusetts and Maine both have such teams.

Downes noted that all 23 troopers volunteered their time and money to take the courses. "It is a tremendous investment of time and personal resources," he said. "These troopers are highly motivated."

Peter Vernesoni, one of the Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue instructors who taught the troopers, said he's eager to get the guard search and rescue team certified, adding that riders on horseback "can be essential to many types of outdoor search and rescue operations."

The troopers who graduated from the course are Downes, Gary Boucher, Bree Berner, Erik Kaneko, John Terase, Howard Miller, Rebecca Rathbun, Edward Fisher, Tom Nicholson, Cheryl Cleaves, Dan Oullette, Dan Filipone, Gregory DeManche, Cristina Kelleher, Etienne Marofsky, Robin Sleeman, Ann Hatfield, Melissa Urda, Laurel Urda, Frank Judice, Tom Gibson, Danielle Williams and Nancy Merritt.

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