Mounted search and rescue

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

Yes, that is a great idea once POD percentages have been obtained or for 
advanced exercising.  However if you are attempting to determine POD 
percentages of the MSAR Responders all clues must be the same for the 
science to work.

Chris- It sounds like you have 2 excellent  ideas for next year's program :)

Another suggestion was for a mounted grid search, but here in the east 
coast most forests have experience their 3rd, 4th or even 5th cutting 
and such open woodlands needed to conduct that type of (Mounted) 
training as described, is next to impossible to find, which makes a 
mounted grid search course very impractical unless you conduct it on 
foot.  FYI - Robert Koester (sp) has done a great deal of research about 
the effectiveness of grid searches and has some books on the subject. 

Jorene Downs wrote:

> A variation of Tomi's suggestion is to use a variety of objects that may be
> left behind as clues, with different shapes, sizes, and colors. The exercise
> is then also the learning experience of how different sizes, shapes and
> colors are harder / easier to see in different environments, etc. 
>
> Also consider placing a person or two relatively concealed off trail upwind
> as a living clue, and see how many horses (and hopefully their riders) make
> the find.
>
> If the rider carries a GPS, you can include "make note of the coordinates"
> when a clue is noted. Or make the entire course more challenging by asking
> the rider to go to coordinate X to find the well marked starting point ...
> and potentially have more than one course so the next rider doesn't just
> head in the same direction as the last. But remember adding the complexity
> of coordinates extends each rider's time on the course.
>
>