Mounted search and rescue

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

I full care board because my schedule is unpredictable. There are
approximately 100 head on 68 acres of prime developable land next to a state
park with an average of $300/month stall. Each owner pays their own farrier,
vet, etc. I average $135 reset every 8 weeks, $165 for a full set of #4 RB's
modified with #8 nail holes, and borium. Board includes stall and half for
him, daily turnout, two grain feeds a day, free choice hay and water in
turnout, etc. Vet bills for shots and insurance physical are probably around
$250/year. I carry $1M in liability and mortality and surgery on him for
about another $400/ year.

I have had the Black since he was supposedly 5 (really 3) and he is now
approaching 19. This year time is way down due to weather -- I try to avoid
working him if the combined temperature and humidity exceed 160 and we had
whole months of 90F and 100% humidity overnight this summer. Right now it is
15 and ice covered, hoping for a break next week with several days above
freezing to dry out park and get some decent footing. The major problem now
is black ice-- frozen mud looks like wet mud and while he is not a mudder he
can get enthusiastic after a long spell of only turnout and the risk of him
falling in the woods is not acceptable for recreation. He can detect a
jogger at around a half mile, and bicycles sometimes further. He will ignore
deer, but not what startled them. He knows what a gunshot is and when to
leave Dodge without asking. He also knows his size is intimidating for most
people when he frisks them for carrots and downright scary at the cantor
coming at you.  I have been told he is magnificent at the gallop but never
had time to appreciate that while trying to stay with him at that speed. At
some point he will retire to the farm at Graterford prison where he will
either train guards to ride or lifers to relax.

His tack is western, roping saddle, Myler bit, 9 foot reins tied at 7, blaze
orange saddle bags, water bottles on the pommel. All the leather is brown,
rough out or harness for reduced care, oversized skirts and fenders for him
or me. I wear whatever is comfortable-- jeans, REI parkas, thermal
underwear, high cavalry boots, chaps,  a Troxel EQ, and carry an orange
vest.  I also have a portable radio with the state park ranger law
enforcement channel in it. His gear probably weighs in at 150 pounds or
more, I weigh around 275 or so. He weighs around 1700.

All the search riders around here own, most home board or at a neighbors,
and while two are ex-corrections people,  most are teachers, nurses,
computer nerds, etc. There are no mounted police units any more in
Philadelphia, the closest to it being the mounted guards at Graterford and
some volunteer townwatch or parkwatch people. Even Valley Forge National
Park has dropped its horse patrol.

I am currently serving as volunteer technical advisor to SE PA SAR and
previously have been a volunteer SAR officer for over 20 years. I have been
a volunteer fireman for 33 years and an EMT since 1985. I am a certified
instructor in search management and emergency organization management,
vehicle rescue and wrote the horse trailer rescue course. I am a founding
member of ASTM F32 and a member of the F32 MSAR Standards Task Force.  I
design highly reliable computer systems and disaster prevention programs for
various clients.

irv lichtenstein