Mounted search and rescue

["T'mi Fi" <tfinkle@erols.com>]

Sure- here are few highlights:

One major item we have stopped is our recruitment drives.  We found that 
30 or 40 folks would show up for orientation just so they could attend 
the Horse and Rider Evaluation (HRE).  Then as an applicant would have 6 
months to complete the basic  courses to reach status as a trainee. 
When folks realized this was a serious volunteer public safety 
commitment they simply quit.. We now have all applicants obtain 4 online 
FEMA EMI courses (IS-100, IS- 200, IS-700 and IS-317), First Aid, CPR 
and pass our written MSAR entry exam before they are even eligible to 
attend a HRE. We have found the applicants that follow through with this 
process are folks who understand the meaning of commitment.

We implemented a minimum of 40 hours per year minimum training 
requirement for all members. The average yearly training hours of all 
teams members come out to about about 90 hours per year.   also have 
training session that are mapped to SAR skills and document all training 
(for each horse and rider).  We place a great deal of focus on POD 
percentage, search theory, land navigation and communication.  The days 
of just going on a group trail ride (as SAR training) through a nice 
regional park are over.  

For anyone who wants more information about our team, a copy of the 2009 
TROTSAR Mounted Team Standards are in the MSAR-Riders library (or they 
can contact me off list).

T'mi
www.trotsar.org    

Una Smith wrote:

> T'mi,
>
> Could you tell us about some more things TROTSAR used to do but has
> abandoned, in addition to the phone tree?
>
>         Una
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