Mounted search and rescue

["Patty Montoya" <riverrider@bak.rr.com>]

Una and everyone,
Thanks for the input.  Yes, I've talked to my team members...it's just I 
like to hear lots of opinions, it seems like there's ALWAYS something new or 
a different viewpoint.  Plus, I'm finding it interesting to hear about the 
regulations that we face throughout the country and how we deal with them.
As several of you mentioned, we always bring ALL of our own provisions, 
horse and human, although the Sheriff's Department has always been kind 
enough to provide a meal on each search I've been on.  But of course we 
never depend on them, plus there may not be time.  As far as manure 
management, I simply fork it into a black trash bag, toss it in the back of 
the truck, and cart it out.  (In staging area, I've never had to deal with 
it on the trail)
Thanks again for the responses.
Patty
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Una Smith" <una.smith@att.net>
To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 12:31 PM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Feeding SAR horses


> While towing, or waiting in base came, some people always keep
> feed in front of their horses at all times;  some people never do.
>
> The third option is that it all depends on specifics of equine
> management at home, on the road, in base camp, and in the field.
>
> If the horse is not on pasture or free-choice feed, then you may
> have to load and go before feeding.  In that case, feeding en
> route and in camp would be appropriate.  But if such a horse just
> finished its breakfast before you loaded, then not feeding en
> route or in camp may be appropriate;  that depends on what you
> feed, how much, how much work you expect the horse to do, etc.
>
> For horses that at best nibble when they anticipate working, you
> might as well not bother with feed.  My mare, retired from polo,
> is one of those.  She just makes a big mess.  Take away the feed
> and she will happily take a nap.
>
> Something to consider is the attitude of local resource managers
> toward "weeds".  Some parks do not allow you to feed hay on site,
> lest you leave behind weed seed, or even non-native agricultural
> crop seed.  Some parks allow you to feed only milled pellets or
> "certified weed free" hay.  Some parks also require you to scoop
> any horse poop, put it back in the trailer, and take it away with
> you.  Some parks require you to drive through a carwash en route
> (no joke!) but I have yet to find anyone who has done this with a
> horse trailer in tow, much less horses aboard.  Some parks even
> require you to feed only milled pellets or "certified weed free"
> hay for 3 days before arriving, so any manure accidentally left
> behind will have minimal "bad" seeds in it.  These rules may or
> may not be suspended in the event of an emergency such as a SAR
> mission, but you may make yourselves more popular by preparing to
> accomodate these rules.
>
> Patty, why not ask your teammates why they do what they do?  It
> could be very educational.
>
> Una Smith
> New Mexico
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