Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>]

Raskin, Larry wrote:
>If there are trees available, you can always make a picket line.

In my area, tie lines strung overhead between trees and/or trailers
and/or specially rigged and anchored posts are known as high lines.
The term picket is reserved for the method of tying that involves a
short stake driven into the ground...or maybe just a log.  Ground
tying, as I understand it, involves no actual tying, just the lead
rope or reins lying on the ground.


>Of course it goes without saying that you practice this at home before
>ever using it in the field.

Absolutely.  My mare is very phlegmatic, but I am still learning,
so I practice everything at home first.  I have reached the point
of picketing on a long rope almost anywhere, and tying onto twigs,
but I still don't have enough experience with picket pins.  There
are many designs, some with very different performance depending
on the soil type.  Eg, screw augers;  these commonly are used to
picket dogs at field trial events, but for a horse they are rather
light weight.  I bought one recently and will experiment with it.
I have searched high and low for a screw auger designed for horse
picketing;  apparently these were in use in the 19th century but I
have yet to see one or even an illustration of one designed for a
horse picket.

I picket my mare routinely on grass, so she has a limited area in
which to graze.  That minimizes the amount of grass wasted due to
trampling.  In fact, it is probably the single most efficient way
to graze an animal.  In the high desert of New Mexico grass is
green only where it is irrigated, so good husbandry is important.

I too keep a halter on under the bridle.  I own a trail bridle (a
halter/bridle combination where the bit and reins are a unit that
can be unclipped from the headstall) but I find it fiddly to put
the bit back on when the horse is wearing the headstall.  I too
use a longer than average lead, but I no longer let the horse wear
it while riding.  Instead, I tie the lead onto the saddle with a
saddle string, or stuff it in a saddle bag.  Cross-country (meaning
off trail) riding presents too many opportunities for the horse to
step into or over any rope looped on its neck, or for the rope to
snag on tree branches, deadfall, etc.  For the same reason I don't
ride with a rein that is stitched closed;  a split rein is safer
in this respect, but I prefer to compromize and use an extra long
rein (the long length is important for MSAR) that has a buckle in
the middle and a spring clip on at least one end.  (Some MSAR unit
guidelines do not allow clips on the reins.)

        Una Smith
        New Mexico