Mounted search and rescue

["philip easley" <easleyranch@foothill.net>]

Hi Sherry,
We usually break our horses and mule to hobbles in the mountains.  We take
them into a meadow where they are to graze and put on the hobbles and let
them adjust to them.  Usually, they just stand still with their front feet
and turn their rumps eating a circle in the grass.  Then we have to move
them.  Once they learn to walk or hop with the hobbles, we have to watch
them when grazing because they will leave and try to go back to the truck.
Some people do turn their horses or mules out with hobbles and they just
hang around camp.  Others will have stock that are so used to mountain
travel that they can be turned out without hobbles and they will stay close
to camp.  I have only had two that would do that.
Philip Easley
NCSSAR
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sherry C. Hicks" <shicks@nwinc.net>
To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 11:33 AM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Hobbles


> OK, I'm the greenie. I just have to ask, is it safe to hobble in an
> uncontrolled area. I agree with you that a policy should be complied with
or
> changed. You are talking about using hobbles instead of ties. There are
> times when a horse is justified in flight. In the areas where we would
> search there are sometimes packs of dogs, other areas would have worse
like
> bear or even cougar. Is it safe to use hobbles on a horse and leave it
> unattended.
>
> It is true that I am not a fan of hobbles; however, I have seen situations
> where their use was necessary and proper. It also seems that you ought to
> require a certain level of training for a horse used in MSAR. Do they have
> to pass any kind of test before being accepted for use? It seems that a
> horse that is not sufficiently trained could hinder a search.
>
> I'm no trying to be difficult, just learn.
>
> Thanks
> Sherry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jorene Downs
> Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 1:57 PM
> To: Mounted search and rescue
> Subject: [MSAR] Hobbles
>
> From: "Patty Montoya" <riverrider@bak.rr.com>
> > Also, our unit requires that we pack hobbles, but I always highline or
> > electric fence my horses.  So, I went out and bought hobbles with no
> > intent
> > to use them.  I don't really want to get into a discussion of the pros
or
> > cons of the hobbles themselves, I'm more interested in opinions of the
> > unit
> > REQUIRING that I use them.  Should the individual make this decision, or
> > are
> > we obligated to follow this rule just as we are obligated to follow
other
> > MSAR rules and regulations?
> > Patty/California
>
> If it is a unit requirement, all should conform ... and demonstrate
> appropriate use of that equipment. If folks disagree with the requirement,
> vote to change it. ;)
>
> Assuming the horse is broke to hobbles and respects their restraint, they
> can be very useful when you're in a situation in the field where you need
to
>
> temporarily leave the horse unattended, there is no convenient location to
> tie, and you want all hands available instead of someone dedicated to
> holding all the livestock.  (This also assumes all the horses are not
taught
>
> to ground tie.)
>
> -Jorene
>
>
>
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