Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <una@lanl.gov>]

Terry wrote:
>The last parade our group rode in I noticed a rider in the parade
>was riding with only a halter. When I questioned what he was trying
>to prove he informed me that he learned this technique at some
>clinic he attended on natural horsemanship.

Putting a horse in a bridle is neither necessary nor sufficient
for control.  That said, someone who rides in a high-stress 
situation with only a halter because some clinician said too, is
asking for major trouble.  I bet the clinician did not say "ride
*parades* in a halter".


>A little while back I was on a general SAR list where they started
>knocking MSAR. It seems that their biggest problem was riders that
>could not control there horses.

I have a problem too with riders who don't control their horses.
Here it is important to make a clear distinction between skilled,
trained MSAR riders and *yahoos*.  A yahoo is someone who shows
up for a SAR mission with:

no pack
no water
no food
no radio
no compass
no notepad and pen/pencil
no map of any kind
no appropriate clothing
   and
no control of their horse

Note that only the last item is specific to yahoos on horseback
(ie, wannabe MSAR riders).  All other items equally characterize
all yahoos, regardless the type of SAR.

MSAR-Riders has often discussed how hard it is to convince SAR
management to take MSAR seriously and use MSAR resources well.
But I think it is crucial that we all, as ambassadors of MSAR,
consider the obligations to SAR management that all MSAR riders
should recognize.  Jorene, I hope you are reading this and that
your MSAR presentation for managers describes and stresses
these obligations, not just details what MSAR riders want from
SAR management.

        Una Smith
        Santa Fe County Sheriff's Posse, in New Mexico