Mounted search and rescue

[Paul Fleming <pfleming@nwlink.com>]

IMHO it seems a little premature to be to be trying to identify 
instructors qualifications until the information to be instructed is 
identified (the standards).

I spent many years as a training officer in the military where 
everything was Task, Condition and Standards.

Task: What you want the student to demonstrate.
Condition: Conditions under which the task must be accomplished.
Standard: The degree to which the task must be correctly accomplished.

I read something on a post where "the instructor must be trail 
experienced".  Does that mean, Washington high mountain trail 
experience, or California Death Valley trail experience. That kind of 
stuff is too vague especially when trying to establish something that 
is supposed to work nation wide.

Determining instructor qualifications is fairly easy once you know 
what you are trying to teach and test on. Over the years I've seen 
many self appointed "Horse Experts, Trainers and Guides" who really 
we not. If the instructor can't teach the Task so the student can 
preform to the required standard he's simply not qualified to be the 
instructor.

Regards
Paul