Mounted search and rescue

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

Leslie Martin wrote:
>We are in a womens drill team here in Sheridan, Wy. I enjoyed reading
>your article about MSRA flag training.

For other readers here, some background.  We discussed flag training
in the 2006 Q2 archive, with a few remarks also in Q3:
https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/msar-riders/2006q2/thread.html#3070
https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/msar-riders/2006q3/thread.html#3276


>What length/ diameter  of dowel and size flag do you recommend

I would start by choosing the flag.  Do you want the biggest you can
manage?  Or a specific flag that only comes in certain sizes?  How
much money do you want to spend?  Etc.  Will you want to "dip" the
flags as part of your routine?  In that case, they should not be so
large that they touch the ground.

Maximum flag size also is dictated by your local weather conditions.
I attended an August rodeo in Sheridan some years ago and as I recall
the weather was fairly mild.  But here in New Mexico, due to the 
mountain topology, we sometimes get wind storms at sunset.  Do the
Bighorn Mountains west of Sheridan sometimes produce similar rough
wind storms?  Strong wind can be a challenge for flag carriers on
horseback.  The drag on a large flag is substantial!  Not only does
the rider need a secure seat, but the horse needs to be trained and
physically able to deal with the sensation of being pushed over.
That's an issue of balance.  My polo pony mare, used to galloping
while her rider hangs off her side, was cool with it so I often
carried our largest flag.  It was about 4x6 feet and a double layer
of polyester satin.  In a hard gusty wind that flag became quite
difficult to handle, even when gathered in hand against the pole.

Most flags I have carried were mounted on 1/2 or 3/4 inch diameter
metal pipes.  Pipes don't splinter, split, or warp, and metal is
stiffer than PVC.  It is easy to install mounting hardware for the
flag, usually via two holes drilled through the pipe.  You need a
gauge of pipe that won't buckle when your largest flag snaps in a
stiff wind.  You might get some good advice about choice of pipe
from whoever sells you the flag.

You want the flag pole long enough that, when you are in the saddle
and the pipe base is mounted on your stirrup, in a strong wind the
bottom of the flag passes high enough over your head (and hat) that
it does not mess up your hair, knock off your hat, knock off your
glasses, slap your face, etc.

By the way, for basic training I used a 12x12 foot plastic tarp.
First folded across the saddle, later opened more and more, as my
mare would tolerate it.  In a stiff wind, the tarp produced enough
drag at saddle height to be a good simulation of a large flag in
stiff wind held overhead.  Erratic drag, noise, visual stimulation,
the sensation of material draping on the horse's head, side, and
flanks, the sight and sound of other horses excited by the flapping
tarp "monster":  all are points you may need to "despook" for your
horse.

Hope this helps,

        Una Smith
        New Mexico