Mounted search team ready and willing to help
By Heather Ruenz
Often when a person is missing and a search is deemed necessary, myriads of people offer to help. However, a variety of circumstances can make following through on that offer a challenge though that’s not the case with one local group.
The Whitewater Area Mounted Search Team and Rescue (WAMSTAR) – a non-profit organization comprised of volunteers and their horses – is ready and willing to help when the call comes in, no exceptions.
“We want nothing more than to help out where and when we’re needed,” founder Sandy Olds said.
The beginning of WAMSTAR goes back to 2006 when a boy with autism who lived in Olds’ rural neighborhood was reported missing.
“An automated Code Red call from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office came through on the phone. The first thing I thought was what the boy’s mother must be going through,” Olds said. “But then I thought, ‘I have a horse and know the area’ so I called and offered to go out and search.”
The staff at the temporary command center welcomed Olds’ assistance but didn’t want her to go alone so she called a friend and they went searching together. The boy was found safe later that day and though it wasn’t Olds who had found him the situation gave her an idea.
“I started doing research and talked to people I knew. There was a lot of interest in it and we decided immediately do it the right way.”
The initial group consisted of a handful of people who researched other mounted search and rescue teams, learned guidelines for the training and created by-laws. In 2007, WAMSTAR was formed and in 2010 was granted its 501(c)3 non-profit designation.
Since its inception, Olds estimated they’ve been called out 12 to 15 times, the majority in Jefferson, Rock and Walworth counties though the group has responded as far away as Reedsville.
“We offer a two-hour window for response to the scene but if someone farther out needs us, we’ll start the calling chain and head out,” Olds said.
“I can’t say enough about their dedication and professionalism,” said Whitewater Chief of Police Lisa Otterbacher. “My first official contact with them was on a sad and dark day for Whitewater, we were missing a vibrant young college student and were in the throes of coordinating a large scale search and rescue effort on Memorial Day.”
Horses offer advantage
While the riders undoubtedly play an important role, the horses, Olds said, add another dimension to search missions in addition to the 10-12 foot height advantage they give to the riders.
Before a horse is allowed to take part in WAMSTAR-assisted searches, it must go through a series of skill tests including being able to tolerate lights, sirens, fire trucks, flares, helicopters and radios, cross obstacles such as railroad tracks and water, and navigate a variety of terrains.
When Otterbacher recalled the Memorial Day search in Whitewater she noted how the horses and riders were able to adapt and relocate to cover difficult terrain on a moment’s notice.
“Initially WAMSTAR was deployed to search the northern portion of the city, however as officers began searching a thick marshy and wooded area they inquired if WAMSTAR could be redeployed to their area,” she said. “WAMSTAR immediately redeployed half of their resources in trailers and responded to the new location. WAMSTAR was able to adapt to any environment and cover a great amount of territory.”
“Horses are great in searches. They can navigate trails and steep hills, water and brush, and have amazing senses. In mock searches we’ve done when ATVs and people on foot have gone past a ‘find’ several times, a horse has led us to it,” Olds said.
Dustin Kahn, who is currently in charge of organizing the horse training for WAMSTAR – held during the warmer months – said the ability of horses to withstand adverse weather conditions is also an advantage.
“They can go out in any weather except for ice. They can deal with the heat a lot better than people and even if they do get hot, we give them some water and a little break and they’re ready to go out again,” Kahn said.
“Departments that we’ve done mock searches with have been amazed at what the horses are capable of,” Olds added.
Committed group
The members of WAMSTAR, Olds said, are a tight-knit group that has fun, “but is not a saddle club. There’s a real purpose to what we do.”
The group holds monthly meetings that feature training, including CPR certification, First Aid skills, map reading, and the proper use of radios, GPS units and compasses.
Mental preparedness is also an important part of the training for members.
“It’s tough. The outcome of the last several searches we’ve assisted with have been for the recovery of a body,” Olds said.
The genuine closeness and common goals among members helps them deal with the gravity of the situations they’re called out for.
“We truly are a team. We care about each other and we all want to do whatever we can to help anyone who needs us,” Olds said.
Team approach
Safety – for all involved – is always the top priority, according to WAMSTAR Chairperson Roger Kincaid.
Kincaid serves as base commander for the group. Whether on an actual search or a mock drill, he stays back and coordinates the mounted team’s search efforts, keeps track of the members, and handles the communication with whoever is in charge of a search, usually a sheriff’s department deputy.
“It’s always ‘safety first’ for everyone. We prefer to go in teams of three but will go with two if we have to. And we always have a backup plan in place for every situation,” Kincaid said.
As a testament to the group’s readiness for being called out on short notice, Kincaid said each rider has a bag of supplies ready to go at all times, normally kept in their respective horse trailer.
As base commander, Kincaid is responsible for hauling several items to the scene including GPS units, water and radios. He also brings maps of search areas to help determine the best course of action for the team.
Olds said in addition to training and assisting in searches, the group is committed to being visible in the communities it serves and its members enjoy taking part in community events such as parades, National Night Out and Safety Days.
Increasing awareness
While WAMSTAR has done mock searches and training with the Department of Natural Resources, the Madison Mounted and Mounted LaSalle police departments in addition to area police, fire and rescue departments, the group is hoping to increase awareness of the service they offer.
“Our biggest hurdle has been getting more police, fire and rescue departments to utilize us. There’s a place for fire departments, rescue squads and K9 units and we bring another dimension,” Olds said.
The group offers its services free of charge and one requirement of members is that they be individually insured, ensuring that there is no risk to the agencies they are called to assist.
How to get involved
WAMSTAR currently has 15 to 20 members of which two-thirds is comprised of mounted riders. But having a horse is not required as non-mounted members play an important role in the group as well, assisting at base command with coordinating riders and maintaining the activity log.
WAMSTAR has the following upcoming training sessions scheduled:
• Saturday, May 24, at 10 a.m. – horse training skills test followed by search strategies, maps and GPS;
• Saturday, June 21, at 10 a.m. – mock search and skills check off, and;
• Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m. – mounted training including grid practice and finding clues.
For more information about joining WAMSTAR, or for police, fire and rescue departments interested in partnering with the group, contact Sandy Olds at (920) 723-9425 or Roger Kincaid at (920) 723-1540.
To assist with the purchase of training materials and equipment for WAMSTAR, checks can be sent to: WAMSTAR, Roger Kincaid (Chairperson), 11629 E. Salisbury Rd., Whitewater, WI 53190.
