Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1

msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Mounted search and rescue

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "philip easley" <easleyranch@foothill.net>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1
  • Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 22:05:15 -0800

Barbara,
Actually, that trip was a hunting trip, on SAR missions, the county had
previously offered to pay up to 500 dollars toward replacing the animal,
then changed their minds. I have over fifty horses and mules. I have a
life time of experience in riding, training, and back country travel on
equines. I should carry insurance, but do not. Others in the unit do. I
am a full time paid deputy sheriff and would be reimbursed for my loss if an
animal met demise in the line of duty. Then we would be ordered not to use
them any more. Bean counters have no interest in community service, for
them it is business. It is kind of a sensitive issue that could cause the
loss of the what ground I have made over the last 21 years in developing
mounted patrol and Mounted SAR in our county. The SAR Inc volunteers would
have to carry their own insurance and are responsible for maintaining their
own equipment, including dogs and horses. They are tax deductible along
with their upkeep. That is about all we get for it.

Fortunately, our SAR Inc volunteers are very dedicated and do an excellent
job making my job as a coordinator easy.
Philip Easley
SAR Coordinator
Nevada County Sheriff's Department
Nevada City, Ca.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barbara Zabriskie" <blktobiano@zianet.com>
To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 4:36 PM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1


> Hi Philip
> Got a question on that unfortunate ride, since then do you carry insurance
> for your mounts? Or does your MSAR Group help pay for injurys during
> searches.
> Barbara
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: philip easley <easleyranch@foothill.net>
> To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 8:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1
>
>
> > I use 120 LB test clips with 250 LB. test utility rope. Normally, it is
> > just enough to pull a balking mule across a stream, but not enough to
hang
> > one. Unfortunately, that frightful night, we were on a trail on the
> > shoulder of an old canal. There was one spot where the shoulder was a 1
> 1/2
> > foot wide rock wall we had to walk on. We had a bypass around it, but
the
> > Mountain bicycle people threw large rocks and logs in our bypass trail
so
> we
> > would not be able to use it (They do not like equestrians in the back
> > country for some odd reason), We went in during the daylight and were
> > delayed until after dark coming out. With the glowstick on the breast
> > collar of my horse, I could make out where the trail was without using
the
> > bright flashlight. Even so, the horse nearly stepped off. When we
> regained
> > balance, I was already committed so I pushed on hoping the mules would
see
> > the wall and do like they normally do and tip toe across. The third one
> > must not have seen it and stepped off. It was a real mess. The whole
> > string fell off. They were hanging around trees and limbs still
connected
> > with side lines and were choking. I held the light while my outrider
> bailed
> > off his horse and cut them all loose. They tumbled down the canyon a
> short
> > distance and got on their feet and climbed back up onto the trail. For
> > someone who loves his animals like I do, it was a horrible experience to
> go
> > through. I still have nightmares about the mules choking. We reopened
> our
> > bypass trail since then, but it still gives me the jitters when
> approaching
> > it.
> > Philip Easley
> > Nevada County Sheriff's Department
> > SAR Coordinator
> > Nevada City, Ca.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Una Smith" <una@lanl.gov>
> > To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 7:31 AM
> > Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1
> >
> >
> > > philip easley wrote:
> > > >Even though they have excellent night vision, my mules that did
> > > >not have the glow sticks on the pack string stepped off that wall
> > > >and nearly killed them all.
> > >
> > > Although equines normally have excellent night vision, there are
> > > exceptions. Philip, are you sure that the mule in question has
> > > normal night vision? Also, mis-steps and falls can happen, even
> > > under ideal conditions.
> > >
> > > (My SAR mare fell with me once during a grid search...in a field
> > > of cut alfalfa. She was bored silly by the slow grid searching
> > > and distracted by the highly desirable food item all around her.
> > > She tried her best to recover but got tripped up in the alfalfa.
> > > When her neck hit the ground I bailed, executing a tuck and roll
> > > (wearing winter parka, long slicker, hat, and backpack). Both of
> > > us rolled onto our feet and stood up, with no harm done, before
> > > the other 8 riders in our group noticed anything was happening.
> > > I swear she was mortified.)
> > >
> > > Anyway, one benefit of glow sticks is that if one of your animals
> > > strays in the dark of night, you can more easily find it again.
> > >
> > > Philip, do you use a breakaway loop of string when you tie your
> > > pack animals together? I have often wondered about the pros
> > > and cons of this, given the pros and cons of breakaway ties in
> > > general.
> > >
> > > Una Smith
> > > Santa Fe County Sheriff's Posse, in New Mexico
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > MSAR-riders mailing list
> > > MSAR-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
> > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/msar-riders
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > MSAR-riders mailing list
> > MSAR-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/msar-riders
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> MSAR-riders mailing list
> MSAR-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/msar-riders
>
> ______________________________________________________
> This email was pre-scanned by Spam Guardian
> A Service Provided by http://www.foothill.net
>






Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page