Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Starting a MSAR team

msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Mounted search and rescue

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Kinch" <kinch@shaw.ca>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Starting a MSAR team
  • Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:06:32 -0700


Hi Derek,

Here in British Columbia, the GSAR course is just over 80 hours long, not including pre-reading and homework. When I first broached the subject of adding an equine team to members of our horse club, the majority balked that they didn't have the time to take the course (one night a week and every second Sunday for 4 months). The old Basic Search & Rescue (BSAR) course that was used prior to the implementation of the GSAR course was just 20 hours long (not including mock searches with the SAR group). It must be remembered that local trail riders are a great resource to a SAR Management Team as the local trail riders know the area, it's trails, waterways and danger areas. As such, I approached the SAR group with the idea that if they were trained to the old BSAR level, the equine team could be taken on as a local "resource" which could be called out on an "as required" basis. They agreed to this proposal and the Equine Search Assistance Team was borne. ESAT is not a "stand alone" team but is a component of the Ground Search Team. Team members are aware that if required, the horses will remain tied to the trailers or in a holding pen (with someone to watch over them) and they then participate as "ground pounders". This occurred last summer when the victim was located over a 175 foot embankment and team members were used to haul on ropes under the direction of the Rope Rescue Team. The team also participates in mock searches with the SAR group and we try and get in a team training day each month. We open these training days to the ground pounders as well and several of them attend (especially the navigation exercises, but we ask that they bring mountain bikes or a quad as the distances traveled can be a bit much to do on foot).

To make a long story short, out of the 15 members who have completed the ESAT course, all but 4 have gone on to complete the 80 hour long GSAR course or are currently on the GSAR course. As a result, the team is no longer just a "resource" but is now part of the Immediate Response Team and can respond with or without our mounts as required.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Joe Kinch

ESAT Team Leader

Arrowsmith Search & Rescue

Vancouver Island

----- Original Message -----
From: "Derek (alternate)" <schmidtd@sasktel.net>
To: <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 1:19 PM
Subject: [MSAR] Starting a MSAR team


Hello fellow SAR searchers!

I am currently the Director of Training for a GSAR team here in
Saskatchewan, Canada, and have been tasked with trying to expand our
services to include an Equine component. Currently we have several people
interested in joining our team, and are interested in bringing their horses
too. As such, I have been trying to find some information on basic
standards, training levels/idea/plans and otherwise trying to get as much
prepared for them as possible.

Our 'plan' so far is to try to get the people trained first as GSAR members,
and then work some up to Team Leaders before integrating the horses into it.
The idea behind this is to try to give the members a solid base and build
the relationships with our Srch Mgr's before we bring in the new tool.

I am wondering if anyone in this group has had a similar development, and if
there are any suggestions. MSAR is a relatively unused thing here in
Saskatchewan, so what ever I come up with is already being eyed as a way for
our neighbouring chapters to model after.


Derek Schmidt
Director of Training
Search and Rescue Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

_______________________________________________
MSAR-Riders mailing list
MSAR-Riders@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/msar-riders





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page