Mounted search and rescue

[Karen Nesbitt <spanishequines@yahoo.com>]

[Deleted HTML duplicate.  -Una]

 
  The discussions I have read continue to be most fascinating. Seems to me 
there is a huge problem with unity in forming groups simply because for every 
horsmen, there is an opinion on proper care, what breed or equipment is best 
and whose method is best for tracking  what equipment etc.  Most horsemen are 
adament on their own routines especially if they own their own animals.  
Rapore is paramount with the beast they ride or handle and when going one one 
one,  this is a diverse area. And mind you all the fancy equipment in the 
world means sqwat if you do not know how to use it and often surviving can 
mean being without.  As horsmen we are a diverse group.
   
  Where I might need or have to ride a Paso Fino (or whatever breed I feel
   suits me) I would not want to disparage the guy who finds his or her job 
is best preformed on another breed whatever breed he or she may ride and 
prefer because if that individual can do the job best on that mount wearing 
the hat he or she prefers, so be it.)  Both of us will always have pros and 
cons as to why we chose what we do.
   
  I would think, but forgive me if I am wrong as this is an opinion, the goal 
here is to get optimum benefits of the talents of each MSAR rider when coming 
together as a team and  in how as a TEAM we can get the job done.  The goal 
of any TEAM is to work together and use those talents best to the ability of 
the team.  We all have talents.  The bottomline is is that if we all don the 
SAME UNIFORM,  we still are all induividuals underneath.  The guy riding a 
pinto in a group of black horses is going to stick out like a soar thumb in a 
parade,  but if he can get the job done should his horse be disparaged for 
gait, size or color?  I don't thinks so.  But a team sure is pretty all  
dressed in the same uniform, looking like they came from the same mold, but 
ladies, pretty is as pretty does and if the team whether it is dressed to the 
nines or not  is not functioning  then Houston, we all have a problem.
   
  The discussion of pros and cons should be just that, not a tool to tear the 
team appart.
   
  From a victims standpoint, a victim could careless if a person in a clown 
suit riding a great dane came to the rescue,just as long as there WAS A 
rescue or find. Dead or alive, the vitim or victims family wants help and or 
closure.
   
  The pooling to talents in a team should be of great importance.  It is my 
opinion that the object of the MSAR whether it is a team or individual,  is 
to be of service to help in search and rescue.  Finding the victim is helping 
the vics, not making a trophy out of him or her.
   
  And as ever, politics, funding etc has a great tendency to further muddy up 
the water and the first thing that starts out on everyones mind often becomes 
the very last thing we think of.  When I volunteered for my first ride, the 
objective was to HELP find the victim, not become one and not be a glory 
seeker. Like then, today I have no money, no  FANCY equipment, just a talent 
with an instinct with a good horse that can be used and so I have to ask if  
TO HELP was my objective then and remains as such today,   WHAT IS YOURS? 
   
  From the outside, the team I rode my first ride with looked for all 
practical purposes like a team of misfits, no calvary group of black horses, 
no "pretty" uniforms, no fancy equipmet, no priors working together, but we 
were there, assessed and pooled quickly our talents, took our positions and 
got the job done with the horses and equipment we each had for that calling.  
And as much as some of us  love rules and regulations and unity,  not every 
rescue or search  whether or not politically or individually funded goes 
according to the "book".  
  
Karen Nesbitt
  Illinois - Unaffilated Volunteer