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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Safety in MSAR / Training mares not to kick

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: Tm' Fi <tfinkle@erols.com>
  • To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Safety in MSAR / Training mares not to kick
  • Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 05:47:14 -0500

Well said Jorene!

The first thing our team does when we get a new applicant is to conduct a horse & rider evaluation and test the horse and rider. We also have a a 4 horse & rider minimum when conduct the H&R evaluation in order to see how each team reacts with other horses and riders. If two (or more horse) horses come from the same barn, those riders are separated during the testing. Pasture mates can be just a dangerous when separated as an aggressive horse can become.

Tomi`
TROTSAR Mounted Team

Jorene Downs wrote:


I agree that this is an important skill related to safety in MSAR. Not just being responsible, but having the skills to control the horse to prevent an incident from escalating to a much more dangerous situation that might involve many others. The incident described could have been much worse if there weren't experienced riders promptly taking control of their horses when something unexpected occurred. That prompt response minimized the potential for injury to others.

A SAR can also increase stress on the horse, if only reacting to stress transmitted by the rider, increasing the potential for that horse to act in an unsafe manner because the horse may perceive a threat and react like the prey animal it is. The poorly controlled actions of a 1000 pound animal on a SAR could easily endanger the rider's life or the safety of others.

This is why I believe it is so important to test not only the disposition of the horse but also test the specific skills of the rider needed to control that horse before that combination ever goes into the field on a SAR. A safety issue not just for the individual and the team, but also for anyone who happens to be around.

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


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