Associated Press - October 13, 2009 12:34 PM ET

CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) - The Canyon County Sheriff's Mounted Posse has become mostly a ceremonial outfit, riding in rodeos and doing the local parade circuit.

But the 14-member search & rescue group founded more than a half-century ago still climbs aboard their horses for missions where the terrain is too steep for motorized vehicles.

In doing so, they're extending the aura of the Old West into the 21st century.

Debra Cline, a 56-year-old member of the posse, says missions like a 2008 ride into the rugged desert near Middleton to search for a lost boy are a reminder that her group isn't all for show.

Cline says, "You're on call for assistance, out in places where it's not easy to get to with four-wheelers and motorcycles."

Information from: Idaho Press-Tribune, http://www.idahopress.com

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