Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

I know riders who have used the skill. I know of Mounted SAR who have used
the skill. Always good to hear of another success story using this method.
Thanks for sharing, Lauri!

I agree with Tomi' that this is a skill valuable for MSAR, as well as being
great for trail and backcountry riders for self-help ... which is why I have
a "non-deployable" version of the class I teach to backcountry riders. I
suspect a large part of any reluctance or resistance is folks not
understanding how the process actually works. I recall when I taught this
class about 7-8 years ago, some folks from TROT (including Tomi' - where I
first met her) were there to take some classes and also helped me put on a
demo ... and in the course of the conference learned the process. 

During that demo I intentionally "volunteered" a State SAR Coordinator from
the spectators to be an active participant in the demo. I'm not surprised to
hear there is support in that region for the process. ;-)

I use the same "you should participate!" strategy to involve riders,
non-riders and management level during training. Class participants have
lifted skeptical non-rider SAR management into the saddle and the management
ends up nodding. The same has been true of attendees who are EMT, Paramedic,
etc., who ask probing questions and end up nodding. I recall one clinic
where management, riders and the mountain technical rescue team
participated, and the technical team was delighted that they would no longer
be the primary providers of the labor intensive litter carry since an option
was now available for those who didn't really need a litter carry. 

Always nice to work with open minded people, willing to consider options
they aren't already familiar with. :-)

- - - - - -
Jorene Downs
SAR & CERT
Mounted SAR
www.ceoates.com/msar

-----Original Message-----
From: Lauri
Thank you Jorene. I met a man who had been transported out via horse. He had
never ridden a horse before and had a broken lower leg. Once the leg
was stablized he said the ride was not uncomfortable and was very impressed
with the care taken by the mounted team (inlcuding the horses). He knew his
options and was very thankful for the ride.
 Lauri
Whatcom County Search & Rescue
KD7PSI