Mounted search and rescue

[<Jorene@CEOates.com>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Una Smith" <una@lanl.gov>
> Suzanne Anderson wrote:
> [...]
> >one may still find value in using the [NASAR] standards that have
> >been (and are being) written as a MODEL for one's own organization
> >and situation.

> But why should any agency credit NASAR as the model for their own
> standard?

Liability issues. Meeting / exceeding state / national standards is a huge
issue for liability. Government agencies will be - and local organizations
should be - concerned with having standards that greatly reduce their
liability.

> NASAR's standard will itself be modeled on pre-existing
> MSAR standards.  [...]

I think you'll be surprised how the end result of the NASAR MSAR standards
will go beyond current existing local MSAR standards. ;)

Instead of trying to second-guess the contents of national standards that
don't even exist for publication yet, how about contributing some positive
suggestions? For example, standards need a method for instruction and
testing to ensure a degree of consistency. Defining instructor/evaluator
qualifications for MSAR will need to be addressed. (Not addressing the
ground SAR standards, just the equine-related portion.) Any suggestions for
what kind of "credentials" an instructor / evaluator for MSAR standards
should have?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs, Committee Chair
NASAR MSAR Standards Committee
visit NASAR on www.nasar.org