We volunteer ourselves and our horses to assist the New Mexico State Police and the New Mexico Search and Rescue Council
during Search and Rescue Operations in Santa Fe County and throughout the State. Working with other
Search and Rescue organizations, we continuously prepare to rescue the lost, injured or deceased subject,
regardless of the time of day, weather conditions, or terrain.
Organization Overview
We are volunteer men and women who train for and conduct mounted (horseback) Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in and near Santa Fe County, New Mexico, on request by the New Mexico State Police. The Posse’s primary focus is in being trained, equipped and prepared to provide this support.
The Posse is a designated SAR Team as provided by the NM SAR Act and Plan of 1978, under the providence of the… NM Department of Public Safely, and administered by the NM State Police SAR Officer. The Posse conducts SAR missions under the direction of the NM State Police SAR Office. The Posse is not a law enforcement agency.
While the Posse is primarily equine-oriented, in order to expand the Posse’s usefulness in SAR missions, in 2008 the Bylaws were amended to include four-wheel drive response. However, this is ancillary to horsemanship skills required of Posse members.
The Posse also provides other community services. Such services include working with other equine organizations, state and local officials to develop plans for and respond to the need for equine evacuation during high-risk fire season. Suggestions and guidelines used to educate equine owners on how to best prepare for evacuation are developed and provided to the general community of equine owners and boarders.
By participating in Parades, Rodeo Grand Entries and providing mounted, uniformed Event Parking Control for museums and cultural events, the Posse offers a unique opportunity to showcase a positive element of the “culture of the West” for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.
Our members include both profession and vocational horsemen and women with a large range of training and experience related to mounted Search and Rescue in mountain and wilderness terrain, in all types of inclement weather, as well as safely utilizing their animals in crowd conditions, vehicle traffic, and other equine stress related activities.
A Tribute to Outstanding Service
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