XR Crossroads Ranch

10/31/2026

2022 GVHS Gelding
Lord Arkyn of Riverrun

Looking for a handsome boy to be your next Mounted Unit Horse? Arkyn is working hard in our Forensic Horsemanship Program and is going to make a great partner.💙

A little trot to show himself off, then straight over for his close-up. Message us here at XR Crossroads Ranch to learn more about Arkyn.

10/25/2026

I’ve been nervous in the saddle so may times I can't count them all, and every time my horse knew it. So when she raised her head or hesitated on a trail, I had to ask myself what happened first. Did she notice something, or did I tighten my reins, hold my breath, and give her something to worry about?

How you feel makes a huge difference during a mounted search. Just like in a homicide investigation, I want to know what happened before, during, and after the observation, and that includes what I did. I can’t give you an accurate account of my horse’s behavior while leaving my own out of it. We have to acknowledge this when it comes to mounted forensic work.

Our fall series, “The Horse Knows Something,” continues with “The Rider Is Part of the Evidence Problem.” Come read it and tell me how your horse responds when you’re nervous. We'll put the link in the comments.

10/22/2026

Tullius, aka George, has figured out that the farrier is also a perfectly good headrest. 🤣 Getting your feet done is exhausting, and apparently we’re providing full-service support here at Crossroads Ranch. 💙 #💙

10/19/2026

2022 Lord Arkyn of Riverrun | 14.1hh Bay Tobiano | GHVS Gelding
Out of Clononeen Tullylish x The Rebel

Lord Arkyn of Riverrun is a talented, athletic, versatile gelding with 90 days of training and experience on trails, around cattle, swimming, and in dressage. Kind, forward, and not spooky, Arkyn brings a willing attitude and the athletic ability to develop in several directions.

Healthy, strong, and DNA tested clear, Arkyn is a promising prospect for an adult amateur who enjoys a responsive horse and wants to continue developing a young partner. Whether your interests lean toward dressage, trail riding, or a little of everything, Arkyn has a solid start and plenty of potential.

Crossroads Ranch for info.

10/16/2026

When Kismet stops and looks into the woods, I want to know what she’s looking at. Did she hear something? Smell something? See something I missed? I’m going to pay attention, but I’m also going to ask what happened before she stopped, what she did while we were there, and what happened after we moved on.

I ask those same questions in homicide investigations because behavior needs context. If we find something near where a horse reacted, we need to document the whole sequence before deciding what that reaction meant. We can recognize that the horse contributed to the search without claiming we know exactly what she detected.

This week in The Equine Investigator, we’re continuing our fall series, “The Horse Knows Something,” with “What Can a Horse Actually Detect?” The link is in the comments. Come read it and tell me about a time your horse noticed something before you did.
-Doc & Kismet

Read on our website! Link in the comments!

10/12/2026

Second Article in our Fall 2026 Mounted Forensic Operations Blog Series is "The Horse Stopped". This is a big deal. Years ago, I was galloping into an area when my horse, Deja, just all of a sudden stopped. Why? I didn't see anything. I couldn't hear anything. What happened? What changed.

Then I saw it. Off in the distance was a mountain lion. Deja was snorting and blowing and pawing the ground. I didn't know if I should run or stand still. The mountain lion ran off. Whew!

These are real things that can happen to mounted forensic operations volunteers and officers in real life at any time.

Read the article at LauraPettler.com | The Equine Investigator Blog.

https://laurapettler.com/the-equine-investigator/2026/9/26/the-horse-stopped

When a horse stops during a mounted search, the rider should examine the terrain, the horse, and their own actions before deciding what the behavior means.

10/03/2026

This fall, we’re taking XR's blog, The Equine Investigator, into the woods to and follow the trail of the questions that connect horses, mounted searches, and forensic investigation.

Dr. Laura Pettler brings equine behavior and forensic investigation together through nine articles running alongside The Briefing Room’s fall Search and Rescue series.

We opened with “The Horse Just Spooked.” This week, we’re asking you to take a step back: How well do you know the horse beneath you?

Read “Know Your Horse Before You Read Your Horse” at the link below, and follow along with us this fall.

A search horse’s behavior has meaning only in context. Learn why knowing the individual horse’s normal behavior matters during a mounted search.

09/28/2026

“The horse just spooked because a mouse started moving in the woods a mile away.”

I laughed when I heard that joke. If you’ve spent time around horses, you probably did too. But it raises a question I ask in homicide investigations: We saw what happened. Do we know what caused it?

When a horse spooks, I want to know what happened before, during, and after. I ask those same questions when examining a death. The most dramatic moment gets everyone’s attention, but it’s rarely the whole story.

In my new article for The Equine Investigator, I explore what a spooking horse can teach us about observing behavior, testing assumptions, and following the evidence.

From the Trail of Truth,
Dr. Laura

Read the article: https://laurapettler.com/the-equine-investigator/2026/9/26/the-horse-just-spooked

09/27/2026

Search and rescue and search and recovery are about the victim. Check out this article about the interesting connection between Lost Person Behavioral psychology and Forensic Victimology we use in investigations.

Discover how Lost Person Behavior and Pettler's Research-Based Forensic Victimology inform missing-person searches, death investigations, and forensic operations. Copy meta description

07/24/2026

Crossroads Ranch and its upcoming Saddled in Secrets is a proud sponsor of the Union County Saddle Club's Equind Emergency Training event.