Mounted search and rescue

["Ian Vowles" <Ian@modric.net>]

Thanks Una - next time hopefully there will be time to ride and visit !

As regards the classroom MSAR - a lot would depend on what you were
requested to provide by the organizers - to my way of thinking there is
much confusion about what MSAR is and can and cannot do ! I would like
to see a class in the future that maybe spans a whole 3-4 hours . There
are a myriad of things which MSAR riders deal with similar but not the
same as Ground Teams . 

Equally on the field day portion I would suggest a whole day exercise ,
including search , navigation,  POD's , communications etc - maybe on
the Sat with the classroom and de-brief on the Sunday.

That said - thank you for putting the presentation together - as always
I learned several important things not least of which is I now keep my
helmet handy in case the authorities ever require it !!

<<Anyway, I learned a lot there too.  Most important of all,
I realized that some volunteers understand the crucial idea "risk a lot
to save a lot, risk nothing to save nothing", but then they further
interpret it to mean that they should pass on any training they perceive
as risky, *saving the risky experience for actual SAR missions*.  This
is a very dangerous philosophy, and I am still thinking about how to
approach it.>>

IF , and it has happened to me several times , an action is considered
by myself to be too risky in training OR on a mission I will not attempt
it - I will seek alternate solutions but strongly believe in being part
of the solution not the problem. I was told by an experienced emergency
responder years ago - it is the subjects emergency not mine . ( When I
am rushing I think of that and slow down and think .... helps me ! )

A mission is not the place for training either a person or a horse ! And
frankly if I cannot do it in training I would NEVER try it on a mission
.

Hope we see you again soon - anyone is always welcome up here in the
"cooler air" come train or visit with us.

Ian Vowles
Mounted Rescue , 
Colorado.

www.mountedrescue.com