Mounted search and rescue

[Karen Nesbitt <spanishequines@yahoo.com>]

[Standardized quotes, deleted HTML duplicate.  -Una]


Karen Nesbitt wrote:
>>  Anyone in IROQUOIS - if the trend is so wide spread....hello,
>>where are you!?

Una Smith wrote:
>Karen, Indiana does not have a very prominent SAR community, at
>least not on the web.  But what is on the web suggests that in
>Indiana SAR often is not a county function.  So why limit your
>potential teammates to people (riders) resident in your county?

  Una -  I personally would not want to limit it!  But I know what does!  
Three words!  LACK OF FUNDING!  Unfortunately, that is what puts the limits 
on every one!  FUNDING...
   
  (As a volunteer, we are out of pocket for everything, including our horses, 
gear, 
   travel, etc. )
   
  BTW - I am not in Indiana, but close to the border.  I personally would not 
want to place limits on a team being just from my county, though I am curious 
to where 
  if any in my county they are!
  ...I think as a volunteer we need to be open if not flexible  to as far as 
we are able to travel be that county or to another state if necessary and or 
available.  Whether we will be able to, that is another issue...
   
  MSAR riders are a limited resource already and so limiting it further by 
anyone saying well your from so and so county or your a volunteer so you 
cannot go there would make no sense.  As I "lurk" on this website, the longer 
I am here, the more we get to hash the pros and cons of volunteering etc and 
though many of us will never actually met each other in person, it is a great 
forum for all of us to share what we do in our own areas.  It gives us 
insight and I for one can really appreciate that.  I think this forum is a 
great network that in essence puts together all of us as a nationwide team.
   
  We hit our high points and lows and we all learn by whatever mistakes!  
   
  My current and immediate  "team" is a husband and wife venture using one 
horse
  and due to the retiring status of my previous mount, the new mount is a 
green horse...
  ....we function independant, but if someone local or far is wanting to get 
together with us, that can be done by contacting us be it for a mission or 
just a get-together to share information and experiences.  If other 
"independants" want to get together to just ride, that too is a doable 
situation...just depends on who is wiling and able to travel...little 
gettogethers between individuals too can help to hone each others skills or 
share in knowledge.
   
  Obviously we cannot do all missions and all functions and have to be 
conservative on outside activities as anyone would if they to are functioning 
independent and how their
  personal budget allows them.  If it was our "career", deployment is a lot 
different.  For us, we are limited in how far we can go to a mission.  It can 
be very discouraging...but even though that is discouraging, I would not let 
that stay us from the idea of  being available as one never knows where or 
when the call will come and it is your turn.  I would want those who are in 
the same situation as I am to not be discouraged but to hang in there and 
keep on keeping on to the best of their ability.  Wishing for a mission is 
not what any of this is all  about, as GOD forbid we all ask for a 
disaster..but what it is also  about is being prepared and to always leave 
yourself open to learn when and where you can.
   
  (We all have to start someplace and those in it be you volunteer or career, 
eventually 
  you do retire so the need for someone else will always be there.)
   
  Una, you also mentioned that not all established units like to use 
volunteers, however, 
  there may come a time when they too are running on reserves or spent on 
those available...so to me, as a horseman and also as a MSAR volunteer,  I 
like to think in terms of preparedness be it for my own sake or someone 
elses.  Take the two horsemen in the accident this past week ..you are a 
horseman suddenly thrown into a situation that is unthinkable...
  ...the very fact that we all own horses and how quick an accident can 
happen should be enough for every horseman to be a even a little "rescue" 
savy whether you volunteer or not.  The victims never volunteer for the 
accidents and goodness knows, they all happen.
   
  Karen Nesbitt
  Illinois - Unaffiliated
  Iroquois County
   
  Today's bumber sticker:  
   
          Old MSAR's do not die, their search just takes them to a higher 
level


        VISIT US AT: 
http://kbefarms.bravehost.com/index.html
  Join in our NEW FORUM
  Sign our GUESTBOOK 
  Place a FREE CLASSIFIED! 
  BLOG ON:
  http://spaces.msn.com/members/kbefarms/