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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Improving MSAR Part 1

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Improving MSAR Part 1
  • Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 16:45:40 -0700

I appreciate your position, David. Perhaps it would help to understand that the training Terry mentions is specific to using the horse like an Air Scenting Dog that you can ride. It works. I wish all MSAR horses and riders had this training because they'd be so much more effective in the field. The horse is aware of much more in the field than the rider, and can make a valuable contribution using those existing senses. I'd even like to see the air scenting horse training as a requirement for MSAR, but at this point it isn't feasible. But this is a whole new level of capability for MSAR to aspire to reach.

And perhaps it wasn't clearly indicated in his prior post, but Terry Nowacki is the person who had this brilliant idea to train the horse to use the inherent capabilities and follow the scent cone and Alert, as well as being the only person in the world who teaches this clinic. So he would be very aware of whether he had taught any clinics in Utah where riders and their air scenting horses might be participating in the search for Garrett.

I see substantial opportunity for MSAR to improve. There has been little change in MSAR in the past 100+ years, and much potential improvement is based on what we can learn from history. Reality is we've even lost ground in MSAR capabilities - a natural evolution as the horse became a specialty instead of common in daily life. But Terry identified a capability that exists naturally in the horse, and turned the common "horse is transportation" into a functional search partner - a giant stride for MSAR. The rest of us who understand the huge value of the air scenting horse training are saying "Why didn't *I* think of that?" because it is so obvious an advantage and so obvious a potential when you consider common herd behavior ... yet nobody has gone there before in MSAR. ;-/

Terry isn't the only one who promotes his clinics. I mention and recommend the air scenting horse training every time I teach because I think that kind of training is invaluable, yet so few are even aware it exists. And I know several SAR riders who have been through his clinics who rave about their increased capabilities in the field. If word isn't spread, people won't know the opportunity exists to ride an air scenting horse. So at the risk of offending <g> I'll repeat the link www.airscentinghorse.com and strongly recommend the training.

And while I don't remotely want to sound like I'm bashing the Mounted SAR Ops for Garret ... they might be well above the average quality for MSAR response ... but I'll bet the ranch there are more ways to use Mounted in that operational area that haven't been considered yet. And I'm not just referring to the air scenting horse training. There is *always* room to improve, and the typical MSAR team and even horse-experienced SAR Management have a lot of options that are commonly not even on their radar.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare SAR - Hasty Team ICP Team
www.ceoates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT
www.tk-cert.org

----- Original Message ----- From: "David C. Kovar" <kovar@1srg.org>
[...] You might find that
it is a situation where MSAR resources are being well used and could be used
as an example of doing things right rather than as an example of
underperformance.
[...] I'd also suggest making a distinction between promoting enhanced standards
and utilization and promoting a particular technique and instructor. Jorene
is making a point for the former while Terry appears to be promoting his own
clinics.
-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of Jorene Downs
----- Original Message ----- From: "David C. Kovar" <kovar@1srg.org>
They've been using both
mules and horses quite effectively.

I would agree with Terry that the vast majority of Mounted teams are not
used to the full extent of their capabilities, and Mounted in general has
potential that hasn't been explored that could be very advantageous.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs





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