It´s been awhile since I received your CD, thank you very much for that. That is a lot of useful and interresting material on that CD. We found some very useful documents regarding MSAR and are working our way through them like translating. I was allways going to send you some gift instead but it is still on the todo list that has been quite long for the last year. Now we are just finishing writing an article about MSAR to the annual magazine of ICE-SAR and were wondering if we could borrow a photo from you? I found one on this link:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAR_1.jpg or maybe you´d have another with a bit more equipment showing?
From: IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN <ilichten1@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Mules for MSAR
To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Friday, August 14, 2009, 8:54 PM
Saddles should always be fitted to the horse/mule . A horse with a sore back is useless . Recently Bethlehem PA put a two horse patrol unit on the street for Musikfest .
One horse has a reported sore back that bothers him so much he refuses to be ridden, by any means necessary .
A properly fitted saddle means you have a better seat on a happier horse/mule . The cost of a custom saddle is often worth it in reduced veterinary bills and a better ride . They often last longer and are actually cheaper than off the rack saddles . The trend to larger horses for patrol and MSAR over the years and the use of warm blood and cold blood breeds also means that wider and longer trees are easier to obtain than they were 20 years ago . Getting an off the rack saddle to stay stable on a Percheron cross was impossible, even with a wide tree it often rolled to the side . A custom saddle, fitted to the horse, solved the problem and provided for the use of a cooling pad (KODEL brand wicking fiber) under saddle . This saddle has lasted over 20 years without maintenance beyond a few sweat corroded buckles for an annual cost
of ownership of less than $50/year, including an annual professional cleaning . It has never rolled or shifted to the side either .
Breast plates are for climbing grades where you don’t want the saddle to shift aft . They are often recommended for field work because they “spot” the saddle for you while tacking and you never know what terrain will be encountered . If you think you will be going downhill a lot the equivalent is a crupper that goes from the back of the saddle to the tail . If you are worried about the saddle lifting off the horse at the rear a flank strap or second girth can be used . It is usually connected to the rear D rings on a Western saddle and the front girth with a leather spacer strap that keeps it lined up . This is adjusted loosely, often having several fingers space between the flank strap and the horse . Each saddle has its own adjustment guide and you want to make sure the horse cannot get a hoof inside a too loose flank
strap . The flank strap also provides an additional anchor for saddle bags .
Many of us are faced with tough economic decisions these days . Making a good investment is often more than worth it in terms of horse health, rider safety, and just having a safe mission . Question: How many of you line the sides of your trailer with plywood or similar materials so your horse can’t go through the sheet metal sides in an accident?
Irv Lichtenstein
From: msar-riders-bounces@lists . ibiblio . org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists . ibiblio . org] On Behalf Of Glaze
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:59 PM
To: ' Mounted search and rescue '
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Mules for MSAR
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But since you all received it then it would be great if somebody is willing to lend us a describing photo from one of your MSAR teams in action. We are just starting here to build up a team and hoping for more teams to start so there will be a more solid ground using horses in SAR. Then we can start finding trainers with experience in the matter to come and have lectures/courses here to Iceland. We also have a webpage (in icelandic) if you want to have a look at the pictures at least: http://leitarhestar.123.is/pictures/