Mounted search and rescue

[bonnie elster <elster530@yahoo.com>]

Good ideas & suggestions

pennbo@bbv.net wrote:

Una asked about why I found this class "interesting". Let me sum it all
up by repeating a conversation. We were sitting around after lunch and
someone commented that they weren't being called out much and asked what
they could do about it. A few suggestions were made. Then one of the
presenters for the day, a very knowledgeable and horse-wise woman, said
"If I was a bystander in charge of making the decision who to call,
after seeing you all in the arena I would be AFRAID to call you because
you are a danger to yourselves and possibly others." That should give
you a pretty good idea how the training went.

There were approx 30 riders plus the two trainers. We were all in a
medium size arena, one end of which had been soaked to create mud and a
mini-lake. We were asked to walk our slowest, walk quickly, trot,
canter, circle, and stop at various times. Then we were divided into two
teams to go opposite directions with the gait changes being called out.
Then we were asked to weave in and out. None of this should've been too
difficult for a well trained MSAR unit. Let me just say that those of us
who were in control ended up in the center of the lake watching the rest
because the center of the lake was the safest place to be! I repeatedly
heard "Oh, I haven't ridden him since March." and "I've only had her a
out a couple of times this summer." There were some people there with
totally unrealistic ideas about what MSAR really entails!! I am sure
there were some very capable riders there and I am sure that some
brought mounts that needed more work- just because it WAS an opportunity
to work them. However, there were so many out of control riders and
horses that it was appalling. I would have to echo the presenters
comments. AND I was really really glad none of my county's SAR managers
came by to visit because if they had assumed all teams were of the same
caliber it would've undone everything we have worked so hard to do.

On a positive note I took my younger horse who is turning out to be
ideally suited to SAR work. She was a champ!! Calm, quiet, and on a
light rein most of the time. When we finally got to the "obstacle"
course she did very well. She actually did better on several then the
trainers horse and they were the same age. There was a certain amount of
satisfaction to be had in knowing that the training I have been doing
with her has been effective. I would have benefitted more from the
weekend, and I am sure there were others there who would agree, if we
had been divided into two sections- beginner/intermediate, and advanced.
Maybe a good class to add to the list I previously sent would be one
entitled "MSAR- what the heck am I getting into and what will be
expected of me!" That class could include a slide show of actual MSAR
missions etc showing what the real expectations for horse and rider
are!!


Chris Pennington
Big Bear Sheriff's Posse
MSAR

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