Mounted search and rescue

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

> Karen Nesbitt wrote:
> > I have not found much of anything in Illinois
> > for spontaneous volunteers.
> >
> > If anyone has any leads please send them on to me.
> >
> > Karen Nesbitt
> > spanishequines@yahoo.com

If you're looking for an MSAR team to join, try calling the Sheriff's 
Department. If they aren't in charge of SAR in that county, they should be 
able to point you to a different source such as the local emergency manager. 
When you reach the right contact, ask about the closest known MSAR teams.

I suspect in some areas the mounted spontaneous volunteer during a SAR may 
not be allowed, primarily due to safety and liability concerns. It isn't 
likely someone looking to regularly be a mounted spontaneous volunteer would 
be encouraged. Management would have no idea if you'll become part of the 
problem instead of part of the solution due to unknown riding skills on an 
unknown 1000 pound animal. Teams may also not allow non-members to 
participate in training because their insurance doesn't cover the 
non-member.

What *is* encouraged is becoming a qualified trained searcher who is also 
qualified as a mounted searcher on a horse that has been tested and proven 
reliable. If there is no nearby MSAR team, there may be potential to start a 
team or join an existing SAR team that has mixed resources.

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