Mounted search and rescue

["Joan Pottinger" <j.pottinger@insightbb.com>]

I checked out the site vasarco.org.  Seems to me to be a very good place to 
start on weeding out horse at least in the beginning that cannot make it as 
a sar horse.  I would have to work on the flag bit.  Don't know why, but he 
has issues with flags.  We ride in parades all the time but can never carry 
the flag.  He get within a couple of feet of it, but that's it.  No more. 
Nothing else in the parades seem to phase him.  Last Saturday we were right 
behind twelve fire engines and they were making them selves know in the 
parade.  Didn't so much as give them a second thought.  Went through kids 
screaming and yelling and just about anything else.  Nothing.  He just 
doesn't like flags or spray.  The spray he will allow once I start at his 
feet and by the time I get to his neck he acts like it isn't even there. 
Been doing this for 9 years.  That's all the better he will get.  The flags 
from day one have always been an issue and I'm guessing must be from his 
previous owner days.  But I haven't really had a need to push it any further 
so maybe I will start to work on that issue.  I figure if this is all I have 
to deal with on my horse I am so fortunate:-)

Joan and her Zoo Crew


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T'mi Fi" <tfinkle@erols.com>
To: "Mounted search and rescue" <U
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 9:21 PM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] horses


> Una is 100% on target!
>
> Unlike many mounted groups whose members can simply apply online or in
> person, instantly become a member without any Equestrianism skills ever
> tested, our team has a formal horse and rider evaluation (HRE) test.  We
> test the horse and rider in nearly 3 dozen different skill categories.
> A spooky horse would never make it through an HRE.
>
> In a competition sized riding ring we first test one horse/rider at a
> time as they go through a series obstacles and challenges, then if that
> section is successfully completed we move from of the ring to test their
> skills out on the trail.   Our HRE test is pretty much in line with
> proposed ASTM (Draft) MSAR Horsemanship requirements and also meets the
> State of Virginia MSAR Equine Standards <www.vasarco.org>.  The HRE
> testing will weed out those horse and riders who are not suited for MSAR.
>
> T'mi
> www.trotsar.org
>
> una.smith@att.net wrote:
>
> > Joan Pottinger
> >
> >
> > > extremely spooky and that's the one she wants to use for msar.
> >
> > Joan, just say no.  No way.  That doesn't mean throw her off the team, and
> > it doesn't necessarily mean don't let her train with you.  BUT, you can 
> > and
> > I suggest you should refuse to participate in any SAR field task 
> > assignment
> > with anyone riding an extremely spooky horse.
> >
> > Every member of every field team has an obligation to themselves foremost,
> > their field team mates, other SAR responders, and the subject, to work in 
> > a
> > safe manner.
> >
> >   Una
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