Mounted search and rescue

["Kinch" <kinch@shaw.ca>]

I own and use a Tennessee Walker for all my riding and SAR work. I have found him to be extremelly reliable and calm under conditions that a lot of horses have spooked at. We have had a helicopter hovering about 75 feet over our heads on searches, worked at night under red light conditions, had emergency vehicles pass us with lights and sirens on (he didn't like it, but he didn't spook), conducted mounted traffic control, been 15 feet away from big Vancouver Island black bears, bull elk & other animals and he has done well with them all. My wife's Walker is also vey reliable on the trail and on the street. I have come across a couple of Walkers and other gaited horses that are not suitable for SAR work, just as I have come across several Quarter Horses that are not suitable. I think it has more to do with their disposition and training than it has to do with their breed.

 

Joe Kinch

 

----- Original Message -----

From: ron bostic

To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org

Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 12:00 PM

Subject: [MSAR] gaited horses for sar

I have found that many gaited horses such as walkers pasos and others are not suitable for sar. They lack the disposition and calm abilities of the QH . In my area of ohio gaited horses are seldom used for anything but long distance riding because of the hot blooded nature and lack of temperament.

Cowboy@ecr.net

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