b'Helicopters and Fjord HorsesHelicopters and Fjord HorsesArticle and photos courtesy of Beth BeymerLongtheway Sweet Autumn and Starfire Giotto get to encounter a lot of unusual circumstances. As a volunteer with the Boulder County Mounted Search and Rescue team (BoCo MSAR), I often find myself in unique situationsand because Autumn and Giotto are my qualified mounts, they share those experiences right alongside me.Most often, we receive calls to search for missing persons in the foothills of western Boulder County, Colorado. One event we regularly prepare for is a helicopter landing near our search area. Its vital that our horses tolerate the noise, the rotor-wash of snow, dirt, or gravel, and the movement of air, and equally important that flight crews can trust our riders and mounts to behave safely in these environments.This year, the Boulder County Sheriffs Office Emergency Services Unit, in partnership with Med Evac of Northern Colorado, organized our helicopter training. Held at the Cherryvale Trailhead in full view of the stunning Boulder Flatironsfive triangular sandstone formations west of Boulder, named by pioneer women for their resemblance to clothing ironsthe setting was iconic.18 Fjord Herald Issue #156Fall 2025'