Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery Team started in August 2000 with the purpose to provide Volunteer Horse Mounted Search and Recovery for Lost and Missing persons. The Team was started in the
North
Galveston
County
area because of the high incidence of missing persons in the largely undeveloped area of South Harris and
North
Galveston
Counties
.
The team is composed of approximately 600+ members/volunteers of various experiences, with many being experienced horse owners. Many of our members are trained in various rescue and life saving skills such as CPR, advanced lifesaving skills and field craft. The members come from all walks of life: business owners, medics, firefighters, housewives, electricians, students, former FBI and law enforcement, current law enforcement, former and current U.S. Marshall, Coast Guard and all walks of military, former and current. Their resources range from horse and rider teams to foot searchers and ATVs. Their water searches utilize boats, divers and sonar equipment. Additionally, air searches are conducted using planes, helicopters and small drone airplanes with highly sophisticated cameras. Infrared and night vision cameras, along with ground penetration units have been utilized in some of their searches.
Texas EquuSearch has more resources than most law enforcement agencies, which allows law enforcement to conduct their investigation, while Texas EquuSearch conducts organized searches. This has proved to be a great working relationship. This has also resulted in Texas EquuSearch being contacted by law enforcement agencies across the nation to assist them in their missing person cases.
TES is available to conduct searches nation and worldwide. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which is funded solely by donations. Texas EquuSearch has been involved in 1,350+ searches in approximately 42 states in the
United States,
Aruba,
Sri Lanka
,
Mexico,
Jamaica,
Dominican Republicand
Nicaragua. Their efforts have proven successful with returning over 300 missing people home to their families safely. Texas EquuSearch is responsible for recovering the remains of 159 missing loved ones, bringing closure to many families.
