The Lake Mishnock Mounted Search and Rescue team was organized in 2007 by Rescue Captain James Galligan and Firefighter Sean Fay.  The mounted search and rescue team consists of three horses and three members.  The horses are: Iesha, Caramba and Jake, the members are: Commander James Galligan, Deputy Commander Sean Fay and EMT/Firefighter Josh Chiarini.

MISSION STATEMENT: The primary mission of the Lake Mishnock Mounted Search and Rescue team is to establish a well-trained and fully equipped search & rescue unit capable of assisting in disasters and in locating lost, abducted, or missing persons in the town of West Greenwich and surrounding areas in a timely and efficient manner without endangering the searchers or further hazarding the lost person.

What are the advantages of using horses

for search and rescue work

• Horses can travel faster and farther than their human counterparts.
• Horses give their riders a higher viewing platform to search from.
• Horses can transport needed equipment such as medical, block & tackle, litters and radio equipment.
• Horses are very aware of their surroundings and will alert their rider to anything out of the ordinary.
• Mounted searchers can stay out longer and are more rested at the end of a search.

The Commanders partner is Gems Iesha Tia called Iesha for short.  Iesha is an Arabian and her color is grey.  Iesha is approx. 900 pounds in weight and relatively small in size but not for an Arabian, she is around 15 hands.  Iesha's partner is Commander James Galligan.  James Galligan is an EMT-C and the Rescue Captain of the Fire Department.  James Galligan has been on the Lake Mishnock Fire Department since 1977 and in 1984 he achieved getting his EMT license.

The Deputy Commanders partner is Caramba Cie called Caramba for short.  Caramba is half Arabian and half Pinto and his color is white with big splashes of brown mixed in.  Caramba is just over 900 pounds in weight and around 16 hands which is not much bigger than Iesha.  Caramba's partner is Deputy Commander Sean Fay who is also the horse trainer.  Sean Fay is a Firefighter on the Fire Department and has been on the department since 2005.

Josh Chiarini's partner is Jake.  Jake is a Standard Bred and his color is bay (brown) with a black mane and tail.  Jake is around 900 pounds in weight and approx. 15 hands.  Jake's partner is Josh Chiarini who is an EMT and Firefighter on the Fire Department.  Josh joined the Fire Department in January 2010, achieved getting his EMT license in March and has been doing Search and Rescue for about a year.  Josh joined the mounted search and rescue team in May 2010.

Eric Gil is the mounted search and rescue team Horse Tender.  Eric goes to events with us and maintains, assist with setup and cleans up after the Horses.  Eric has a highly respected duty and we are glad to have him help us, it makes it easier for us to do what we need to do.  Eric joined the Fire Department in 2005 and is currently a Firefighter.  In July 2010 Eric volunteered to be the Horse tender for the team.  Eric is working on getting his EMT license and wants to pursuit a career in Firefighting.

The horses are very well taken care of and taken out regularly for exercize and training.