Mounted search and rescue

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

Hello MSAR-Riders,

Here is a discussion thread between myself and non-MSAR SAR team leaders,
relevant to MSAR.

On SAR-L, Rick Slatten wrote:
>>>>1.  I have never been able to understand this incessant need to evaluate
>>>>(and certify) people on the basis of what they HAVE vs. what they DO.

On SAR-L, Una Smith replied:
>>>New Mexico's SAR legislation gives the authority to prescribe a pack list.
>>>Whether doing so is good or bad is another question.  Here is my answer.
>>>
>>>The HAVE is necessary for our demographics.  In a state with more people
>>>per unit area, perhaps SAR teams can be more selective.  Another factor I
>>>see is that SAR teams in our more urban areas tend to get a lot of new
>>>members who move to New Mexico in search of wilderness experience.  They
>>>do not already have wilderness experience.  I see this also in mounted
>>>(horseback) SAR all over the continent:  in some areas MSAR teams spend
>>>a lot of time teaching new recruits how to ride in the field (as opposed
>>>to in an arena);  in other areas, riders who are not already proficient
>>>on horseback in the backcountry need not apply.  It is rather like going
>>>to college:  some colleges can afford to be highly selective, but many
>>>find it necessary to provide remedial education.
>>>
>>>I have told newbies what to expect at the evaluation, showed them my pack,
>>>and given them a copy of the Study Guide to read (accomodating 3 learning
>>>styles) and still they come to the evaluation without minimum equipment.
>>>I recall one person who brought most of the contents of a 24-hr pack but
>>>no pack, not even a gym bag, to put it in.  The pack list is a HAVE, but
>>>having no 24-hr pack may be a DO.
>>>
>>>My lensatic compass is a "transit compass"[1], which at least one website
>>>describes as an "M2" compass.[2]  It is significantly harder for me to use
>>>on horseback than a protractor/orienteering/baseplate compass[3] for these
>>>reasons:  the compass itself has to be opened first and I cannot open it
>>>while wearing gloves, and it has no place to add a lanyard.  And it costs
>>>20x a good baseplate compass[4], so I dread dropping it under my horse's
>>>foot.  Murphy's Law, you know?
>>>
>>>[1] http://www.thecompassstore.com/5006lm.html
>>>[2] http://www.map-reading.com/appendg.php
>>>[3] http://www.thecompassstore.com/8010g.html
>>>[4] http://www.thecompassstore.com/baseplate-compasses.html
>>>
>>>Anyhow, thanks for this thread.  I got something out of it.  I hope you
>>>all did too.

Off list, someone asked Una Smith: 
>>In reading your response [above] I gather that you might also ride in an 
>>MSAR unit. If this is so, could you describe your pack a little further. 
>>For some reason or the other, I thought you were associated with the K-9 
>>unit, but of course, you might be in both. Anyway about it, I'm really 
>>interested in your pack for when you're riding your horse...since this is 
>>something we're trying to gather info on. Some of our equine folks have 
>>very little equipment and we've been trying to get them to understand that 
>>they've got to carry a 24-hour pack; thus, we're having them take our 
>>training, as well as the MSAR training before they can become full-pledged 
>>MSAR members. Do you carry your pack on your back, like a 
>>ground-pounder...or in saddle bags...or in a small pack attached to your 
>>saddle, etc.

Off list, Una Smith replied to someone:
>Yes, I do MSAR, although currently my availability for missions is very
>limited.  I am also a Planning Section Chief.
>
>When I ride I always wear a waist pack with spare glasses, phone, pen
>and paper.  It has room for compass or GPS.  I almost always wear good
>leather gloves, else I have them in a pocket.
>
>Sometimes I wear a bigger fanny pack that holds far more stuff and is
>almost big enough to need a chest harness.  I use that one in hot summer
>weather when I am escorting a trail ride.  It holds a good sized first
>aid kit, multitool, and spare batteries for my cell phone and/or radio.
>More often, I wear a daypack containing the above plus foul weather
>clothes, first aid kit, water.
>
>In addition to the big fanny pack or daypack, on the saddle I frequently
>hang an insulated thermos on the horn, plus a cantle bag with large side
>pockets.  It holds more water and food and extra warm clothes.
>
>In my experience both on horseback and over many years past traveling on
>foot, water and warm dry clothing are the #1 and #2 things that people
>in distress need.  Sometimes they are in my own party, sometimes they
>are the SAR mission subject, sometimes they are just someone we meet in
>the field.
>
>Another issue to consider is footwear.  If the rider wears "slicks" then
>they should pack boots suitable for groundpounding, in case they need to
>walk out.

Thought you might find this useful.

        Una Smith
        New Mexico