Today I was at a relitives house out in the country who has a horse. My relitives brother in law (who is pretty horse savy) wanted to take the horse for a quick ride. So, he got him ready and continued on a trail (he had been on a few times before) leading away from the house. After two hours we wondered where he went. My relitive hopped on his mountain bike and went looking for them, but couldn't find any more horse tracks after a certain point. He came back and went in his truck to find someone with an ATV to search faster.

I grabbed my backpack with my gear from my truck and left a note saying I was on the trail searching, didn't plan on going more then 2 miles, and had equipment and a whistle I would use for signal, I also mentioned I had my cellphone which did happen to work out on the trail. So, I set off following tracks and broken branches, the horse was not shoed so it was easy to follow. As I was going a long I looked back often, broke branches, and made rock/stick blazes to find my way back. I was walking along and about half way through the trail I was met by an ATV driver who said he would go left and I would go right where the main trail made a T.

I left a rock blaze and continued following the tracks. When I noticed the tracks turned into two sets of the same track I realized the rider had been going around in circles in the loop (about a 5 mile loop) and was missing the return trail. After about a mile on the main trail I turned around as to not get too far away on my own. After a few minutes I was met by the ATV driver who said he had found the rider/horse, that they were ok, just lost.

He said he already went back to tell my relitive and had almost got lost himself, but noticed my blazes which kept him on the right trail. So, he gave me a ride back to where the T in the main trail was. I waited there for the horse and followed him back making sure he went the right way(s). Without what I learned we could have had 3 people and 1 horse lost today, but instead everyone was back within 3 hours with the horse getting a nice drink/eat/wash and the rider getting a nice talking too. See, I didn't plan on doing any SAR today, but I was prepared for it and all turned out well. Just goes to show what being educated and prepared can do. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Theres an old saying " 4WD will get you stuck where your not dumb enough to go on 2WD." Horsemen are infamous for going off on quick rides and getting into trouble. I've done it myself. Every horseman should have a accessable whistle and one hand opening folder. A PSK with some equestrian items is not a bad idea either. I pack chicago screws ( infamous for backiing out and disabling bridles) Bute ( equestrian pain meds. If a DVM will be accessable it's better to forego giving, as it masks vital readings.And NO people shouldn't take it.) an EASYBOOT, a rubber slipper that protects a hoof should a shoe get thrown on the trail, and a nice big woolen blanket tied off to the cantle. Horses can be remarkably tough and paradoxically fragile. If you get in a wreck that blanket can save a horse from trauma. They are also relatively fireproof and dont make scary noises like a space blanket or plastic tarp. Good Job!

CK: The CANTLE!?! I can't believe you actually do that. What can you be thinking? Obviously, the correct place to tie a wollen blanket is across the marniset, or in a pinch, the main hawset brace. Really! -- Bear

whats a rock/stick blaze? A pile on tthe trail?
I am only familiar with blazed slashed into the trees.

thanks,
foist

Here are some examples: