Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

In my travels and experience, I've also found the MSAR horse is primarily 
used for very basic transportation and often limited rider skills. Many of 
the "used to be common" skills and capabilities related to horses are not 
being considered. And few riders/searchers are actually paying attention to 
the horse that is in regular communication using "herd language" - but the 
rider is often not noticing even the more obvious messages from the horse, 
much less the more subtle. With better training for both horse and rider, 
MSAR could be far more effective in the field, and far more versatile. 
You're correct that what should be a partnership in MSAR is often just a 
mode of transportation. The equine partner is greatly underused, as is MSAR 
in general. But that isn't going to change until riders seek new 
opportunities. There are plenty of options available.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare SAR - Hasty Team ICP Team
www.ceoates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT
www.tk-cert.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Terry Nowacki
[...] From what I have witnessed from my travels and experience 95% of SAR 
teams are using horses the same as they were used 30 year ago. For the most 
part traditional MSAR has used the horse for a mobile search stand or a mode 
of transportation

The horse is a multi sensory search tool with extraordinary scenting and 
hearing abilities.
When trained correctly the horse is capable of much more than being just a 
mode of transportation, the horse can become a true search partner.  When it 
comes to the use of the horse, man has actual lost ground over the last 100 
years or so, instead of progressed. [...] Horses are constantly trying to 
communicate it is just that most people do not know how to read them.