[MSAR] (MSAR) Mares and Stallions
Warren Trooper Craig
TrooperWC at netscape.net
Wed Mar 17 23:53:58 EST 2004
I have read and pondered the numerous volumes of opinion and thought in these messages on this subject. I find it interesting that this one topic generated more traffic than anything that I've seen since coming into this site.
If this much diverse opinion is generated by a group that is simply conducting a theoretical discussion on the pros and cons, what will be the outcome within an individual group actually dealing with the situation?
For this reason alone I would say that the introduction of stallions into such a group would be inadvisable.
In all of the law enforcement mounted divisions I dealt with during my tenure as a mounted deputy sheriff, not one advocated the use of stallions within the departments. When dealing with the state SAR in Georgia, which was comprised mainly of mounted commissioned officers, no volunteer groups or individuals were allowed to ride with stallions when participating in law enforcement administered manhunts (is that still politically correct?) or search and rescue missions.
The troop commanders had unilateral decision-making powers about the suitability of any horse to participate at any given time. Troops consisted of 4-5 riders each assigned a geographic area of search. The idea was not to exclude anyone, but rather to remove any obstacle to the tunnel focus of the search. No horse and rider, regardless of the sex of either which could, by their condition or actions, belay the focus of the search was allowed to distract from the search, and were sent back to the command center.
A stallion, whatever his disposition under saddle, is an instinctive creature by nature. He will do as he is genetically engineered to do. The same goes for a mare or gelding in various situations. If at any given time they are fractious or disruptive, they should be removed from the search team operation. Excluding stallions from participation was simply a preventative measure to forestall the probability of having to deal with the likely occurrence of reflex social behavior which is inherent in the very nature of stallions being stallions.
By the same token, and to be perfectly fair, I have dealt with several geldings who were gelded late in life, 7 years or older, who failed to realize that they were no longer stallions and behaved accordingly. They had very short working spans as well.
--
Warren (Trooper) Craig
email: trooperwc at netscape.net
wcraig at code3associates.org
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