Mounted search and rescue

["irvin lichtenstein" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

As in any endeavor involving people there are problems. If the group is
affiliated with a government agency there will be rules.  Some of these will
make sense-- horses must be sound, riders sober on the job. Some will
not--uniforms, breeds or sizes. This is a culture thing. Cops like uniforms
and big horses because experience in crowd control says this works.

Nobody has any money to pay for this activity. Mounted SAR costs the
responder lots of money and independent groups even more. Ever figure out
what it costs to keep a horse per year? Don't forget to include all the
costs, include the land and building maintenance if he lives at home.
Don't be surprised if it exceeds $6000 per year plus the truck and trailer.

If a volunteer is willing to put that much in to a group plus his time and
risking his mount and himself I don't care what he rides.  But he cannot be
disruptive of the group's function. Unlike dog handlers who can work a
single dog with non-dog backup, mounted work in task groups of 2,3, or more
riders. If they don't get along the job doesn't get done. This also means
that the mounts should be matched for capability during the task. My 17-2
Percheron can slow down to match a 15H quarter horse's walk but it would be
easier if they were paired with similar striding animals. Putting a pair of
hotbloods together may also spell disaster as opposed to pairing with a cold
or warm blood disposition.

What you ride or how you ride does not matter but you should have some
highly visible identification on you or the horse to mark you as one of the
good guys.

Irv Lichtenstein