Mounted search and rescue

[Slybarbara@aol.com]

[Deleted Cc's and HTML duplicate.  -Una]


Mickie (Walla Walla MSAR unit leader) - this is Barbara from the 2006 SAR  
Conference committee.
 
You've expressed a willingness to help with the conference, and we  
appreciate that offer.  Here's where we are with respect to horses at the  
conference.
 
NWHSAR has 20 to 30 active members who will be providing mounted security,  
riding in teams during the conference and at night thru the camping area.   
We 
did this in 1999 - it was remarked this was the 1st conference without any  
security related problems, so mounted patrols got a lot of credit for making 
a  
positive contribution to the event.
 
At this point we expect to have enough riders to meet our patrol  obligation. 
 There's a concern about limited stall space if MSAR  attendees from other 
counties were to bring horses.  We'd like any  non-patrolling MSAR personnel 
to 
have the freedom to attend classes, meet &  greet without the distraction of 
having to care for their animals.
 
I've been looking to get funding to bring out of state MSAR  instructor(s) to 
the conference.  Una, Jorene and Irv L. have made some  very worthwhile 
suggestions, however our state SAR coordinator is only  funding SAR 
management 
instructors.  Our next step is to appeal  to corporate sponsors and 
businesses 
affiliated with an interest in the  riding community to help fund an MSAR 
track.  
Obviously, we have to do  this at a gallop!
 
If we fail to fund travel expenses, we'll need to develop some MSAR  courses 
using local WA teams.  We'd welcome input/assistance from other  counties.  
Instructors would be able to bring their horse(s) for  demonstration 
purposes.  
I am sure we can make room for a  few additional animals.
 
I am sorry you didn't have a quick response from the committee working  to 
secure instructors (I am on the vendor committee, so don't have direct  
control 
of that process).  Mounted SAR is a bit of a mystery  to many of them, so 
they 
may not have known how to respond.
 
Please let me know any thoughts on what might be of interest and value to  
the MSAR attendees.  Let's keep the lines of communication open.   Feel free 
to 
contact me at work 425-755-6828 or evenings on my cell  425-985-2715.   This 
is an opportunity to bring MSAR to  a higher profile and to do presentations 
to 
improve our members' skills  & professionalism.
 
Thanks for reaching out.
Barbara Sly
VP, Northwest Horseback Search & Rescue
KCSARA