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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1

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  • From: "Barbara Zabriskie" <blktobiano@zianet.com>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1
  • Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2004 17:36:19 -0700

Hi Philip
Got a question on that unfortunate ride, since then do you carry insurance
for your mounts? Or does your MSAR Group help pay for injurys during
searches.
Barbara
----- Original Message -----
From: philip easley <easleyranch@foothill.net>
To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 8:18 PM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1


> I use 120 LB test clips with 250 LB. test utility rope. Normally, it is
> just enough to pull a balking mule across a stream, but not enough to hang
> one. Unfortunately, that frightful night, we were on a trail on the
> shoulder of an old canal. There was one spot where the shoulder was a 1
1/2
> foot wide rock wall we had to walk on. We had a bypass around it, but the
> Mountain bicycle people threw large rocks and logs in our bypass trail so
we
> would not be able to use it (They do not like equestrians in the back
> country for some odd reason), We went in during the daylight and were
> delayed until after dark coming out. With the glowstick on the breast
> collar of my horse, I could make out where the trail was without using the
> bright flashlight. Even so, the horse nearly stepped off. When we
regained
> balance, I was already committed so I pushed on hoping the mules would see
> the wall and do like they normally do and tip toe across. The third one
> must not have seen it and stepped off. It was a real mess. The whole
> string fell off. They were hanging around trees and limbs still connected
> with side lines and were choking. I held the light while my outrider
bailed
> off his horse and cut them all loose. They tumbled down the canyon a
short
> distance and got on their feet and climbed back up onto the trail. For
> someone who loves his animals like I do, it was a horrible experience to
go
> through. I still have nightmares about the mules choking. We reopened
our
> bypass trail since then, but it still gives me the jitters when
approaching
> it.
> Philip Easley
> Nevada County Sheriff's Department
> SAR Coordinator
> Nevada City, Ca.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Una Smith" <una@lanl.gov>
> To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 7:31 AM
> Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1
>
>
> > philip easley wrote:
> > >Even though they have excellent night vision, my mules that did
> > >not have the glow sticks on the pack string stepped off that wall
> > >and nearly killed them all.
> >
> > Although equines normally have excellent night vision, there are
> > exceptions. Philip, are you sure that the mule in question has
> > normal night vision? Also, mis-steps and falls can happen, even
> > under ideal conditions.
> >
> > (My SAR mare fell with me once during a grid search...in a field
> > of cut alfalfa. She was bored silly by the slow grid searching
> > and distracted by the highly desirable food item all around her.
> > She tried her best to recover but got tripped up in the alfalfa.
> > When her neck hit the ground I bailed, executing a tuck and roll
> > (wearing winter parka, long slicker, hat, and backpack). Both of
> > us rolled onto our feet and stood up, with no harm done, before
> > the other 8 riders in our group noticed anything was happening.
> > I swear she was mortified.)
> >
> > Anyway, one benefit of glow sticks is that if one of your animals
> > strays in the dark of night, you can more easily find it again.
> >
> > Philip, do you use a breakaway loop of string when you tie your
> > pack animals together? I have often wondered about the pros
> > and cons of this, given the pros and cons of breakaway ties in
> > general.
> >
> > Una Smith
> > Santa Fe County Sheriff's Posse, in New Mexico
> > _______________________________________________
> > MSAR-riders mailing list
> > MSAR-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/msar-riders
> >
>
>
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