Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <una@lanl.gov>]

Yahoos make MSAR teams look bad, even if the yahoo is not on the
team, if there appears to be any connection between the yahoo and
the team.  To some SAR managers, the fact of being on a horse may
appear to be a connection.  That is one *good* reason for an MSAR
team to have a SAR uniform of some kind, even if it is only a T-
shirt or a high-visibility vest.  And don't let your trainees go
out on missions until you can rely on them to stay safe.

I guess I started it, by mentioning last week riding in a halter
and with no hands.  My horse is 20++ (exact age unknown), lately
retired from a very long career in low- to mid-goal grass polo
(for those of you who know what that means).  She handles like a
magnificent polo pony that was unfortunately trained by a so-so
rider, though one with good sense;  in other words, her potential
was extraordinary and largely wasted.  I wish I could clone her
and start her again from scratch.  She is unusually willing and
level-headed for any horse, but even at her now advanced age she
is still extremely forward.  And, coming from a very high stress
but in many ways controlled, predictable environment, she has had
a *lot* to learn about being an ordinary riding horse.  One thing
I learned early on is that to her wearing a halter means she is
on duty but not working.  A halter signals "parade rest".  So one
trick I use to keep her under full control is to take her bridle
off!  (Think about this!  It is a very important point.)

The trail I mentioned we rode on sans bridle was one we had never
been on before, miles from home.  Most of it was a narrow single
track;  at one point, the track was across a slope over a stream,
leading to a narrow, long wood plank footbridge with a handrail
on one side.  The approach was steep and made a sharp turn.  To
get my mare and my companion's gelding across this rather tricky
obstacle, we did some backing, turns on the haunches, and forward
movement against both horse's better judgement, all with halter
and single rein.  Would I have had more control with a bridle?  No.
More finesse?  Yes, but not much more.  This mare neck reins like
the pro she is, and cues a lot off her rider's seat, but even so,
in this case she had to pay close attention to me to understand
what I wanted her to do, because the circumstances were unfamiliar
to her.  This was a good training exercise for her, but note that
we were not in a crowded public place and not on a SAR mission.  
Would I have ridden this obstacle sans bridle with a less willing
and attentive horse?  Absolutely not.  Would I ride this horse
sans bridle in a parade?  Absolutely not;  it would set a really
bad example for (ahem) yahoos.

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