Mounted search and rescue

[Karen Nesbitt <spanishequines@yahoo.com>]

[Deleted HTML duplicate.  -Una]


Hi Una,
   
  Thanks for the message below.  I am glad you contacted me several weeks 
ago.  It has been interesting "lurking" on the site!  My background varies 
from most I am sure, but I do also understand prodical and chain of command 
etc!  So no "disrepect" or anything of that nature is intended by any 
comments.  I have just seen it too often with a lot of horsemen where they 
are competitive by nature and their egos can override their common sense and 
I have very strong feelings about this.  And though of course, my riding time 
in actual search has been extremely limited, I do have strong opinions that I 
gained walking away from the ride I told you about. And as you called me, a 
spontaneous volunteer, I have to beleive my emotions over a lost child 
compelled me more so to "jump" in and help than anything else and the 
experience was both heartwrenching and awesome.
   
  One thing I forgot to mention to mention, regarding ATVs,  They can be very 
noisy.  So that fact alone can hurt a search, especially in a live victim who 
might still be able to give calls out to the wilderness.  However the roar of 
the ATV would hide those calls.   Horses on the other hand could possibly 
perceive hearing the victim before the rider and alert the rider, thoug not 
always.  You need to REALLY KNOW YOUR HORSE and that is where I cannot stress 
time in the saddle with one animal being very important.  Horses on the other 
hand can be intimidating to those not familiar with them and the search 
victim may have serious problems in being approachable.  Just things I have 
learned through the years just handling horses, people and kids.
   
  I once had an unusual experience with a black child.  He did not know what 
a horse was.  Here  I was at a gas station and had a flat on my trailer and 
had to take the beast out while they worked on the trailer and the kid was 
watching and he actually thought the horse was a dragon.  He was from the 
city and never had the pleasure of meeting a horse or person handling one.   
It took me a bit to convince him and his friends that the "dragon" was not 
going to harm them.  Once touching the soft muzzle of the "dragon" the child 
was in awe of the animal and I had a hard time telling him I had to load up 
and leave as he was hugging his "dragon"!  I could imagine the story he 
brought home that day!  I could not imagine any 13 year old not knowing what 
a horse was, yet alone learning this from an innercity kid who had no 
knowledge of the country and had never seen yet alone heard of a horse and 
yes, in America.!  This happened in Chicago.
   
  Well, friend, so much for our off the "record" discussions.  As ever, you 
may forward my  prior comments to post on the MSAR. As the "new" kid coming 
aboard, I am prepared to take some razzing, but would expect a worthy 
education ahead on both sides!  THANKS!
   
  Sincerely,
  Karen Nesbitt
  Illinois - non-member 
   
  PS
  It is hard to jump in and offer feedback or comments when those who are in 
it supposedly do know more than you and of course, I am always open to 
learning.
   
  I read your posts today. Thanks for your comments.  I feel some were in
  my direction in the course of our off the record convesations.  See you  
next-time on line!  (I sent copy to the addy you gave me below as well as to 
you.  hopefully this will press and do feel free to draw up my previous 
letters off record to post there.  Maybe somoene has comments or can benefit 
and as we both can agree, that is where it is at, helping each other.)
   
  

Una Smith <una.smith@att.net> wrote:
  Hi Karen, 

To post something to MSAR-Riders, simply e-mail it to the list
address: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org

Hang in there!

Una