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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: Karen Nesbitt <spanishequines@yahoo.com>
  • To: MSAR <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>, "Mounted search and rescue in Illinois USA." <msar-il@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [MSAR] MSAR Winter search - Clothes
  • Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:11:48 -0800 (PST)

Responding to:

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 08:54:23 +0800
From: "David leadbetter" <dleadbetter1@aapt.net.au>
To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Winter Searches - clothes
Message-ID: <00956C80CEF94CEF9798B2F86B7E8B8F@useraf2125ae48>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8";
    reply-type=original

Very interesting...but how do you guys get on your horses.?
Our winters are very mild and a good jumper and a dri-as a bone are usually
sufficient.
Our summer is the problem,fly veils and fly repellant for the horses...same
for riders.
At home I ride early morning or late evening to beat the heat.
Depending on the situation I evaluate whether I will respond to a call out
if the temp is going to be extreme i.e over 35 [about 95 ].I know that when
it is really hot,I am just as likely to get crook...which makes me a
possible liability.

cheers

Linda
Perth WesternAustralia
 
>>>>>>>>>
 
Im with you on that "how does one get on" part!!
 
Being too "bulked" up for warmth is never a good thing.  Safety is hindered when a rider cannot move freely.
 
One of the biggest problems in winter is always keeping dry.  Feet, hands and face, ears are the most important areas to watch for frostbite.  Upper legs especially thighs!
 
Footwear is a major problem as too bulky of a shoe/boot/mucker  can be a major problem gettng a foot into a stirrup or even out of one.  Todays stirrups are also often metal based as opposed to traditional wood and some are even plastic and can conduct cold to your feet.  Then it becomes a matter of being dry.  Too many socks on or off, make for a miserable time changing footwear when outdoors. any shoe with metal in it are OUT.   The knitted calf covers are great.  Chaps can be good too, but there again depends on weather condition.  Mounting up can be a real interesting experience!   But staying warm in them is a joy.
 
Footwear trudging around at the barn are the near knee high rubber slip on type.  They get through the muck and the mire, but are cumbersome for riding.. For riding I like the  heavy duty muckers and it is a tough call on if one would go over the ankle or not.. weather depending.  Leather cowboy boots are so expensive these days and it is really hard to find a decent pair of any shoe that will last.  If the mud and salt dont split or rot them first....Seems 90 days is too much to ask on a modern day pair of good using leather shoes and you pay through the snout if you get custom mades. 
 
Being too bulked up with clothing hinders movement while dressing lighter can be advantageous in keeping warm since mobility is not hindered.  Layering is by far the way to go.  Tee shirt, long shirt with sleeves, vest then a light winter outer coat.  This year so far my outer coat has been a fleeced lined flannel zipped front hooded light jacket, just below the buttocks so not as to sit on the coat in the saddle and big enough to put my vest under neath.    
 
As for hands, several pairs of gloves are a must. Been getting by so far with the cheap brown flannels either lined or not for barn work... if a pair gets wet I always have two or three extra.  Then for riding - fur lined leather winter riding gloves.  Carry handwarmers on a ride and have them in pocket for working around the animal at home or away.
 
Head cover....depends.... as temperature could propose issues with wearing a helmet and keeping the head and face warm.  Polarized sunglasses that darken on their own are nice, but they have drawbacks.  Trying to wear any type of glasses can be a problem due to headwear!  Wearing a mask, and long scarves mummying the head and all that can be a cumbersome matter and removing same in the event of an emergency... you cant be bouncing around a subjects head in the unwrap and removing your own in an emergency when minutes matter... need I say more.
 
Individuals perform differently based on heat and cold as do the horses and risking a team in the winter especially on a recovery is something that can wait for better if not warmer weather.  Extreme heat is another factor... some breeds of horses are better suited for hotter temps.  Cold bloods for example are not as adept as a hot blood for the hotter temps but regardless, it is all a matter of conditioning and the condition of the riders and horse teams  need to be aware of their animals and themselves and how well they can perform. Conditioning for endurance type of riding and working within the parameters of that sport is a very useful tool in knowing your animal and yourself in what you as a pair can take.
 
A small can with a plastic lid and a candle inside the can with some matches is a handy thing to pack not only in the vehicle incase of a break down but can also prove useful in the field.

Fleece saddle covers are nice....they work great on english saddles...
 
Some must haves back at the trailer is a fleece track blanket for cooling out the animal, also to have a winter horse blanket and a light horseblanket.  All may come in handy for before after and even during a ride. 
 
I like to keep the feathers on my horses  legs trimmed in the winter if I ride them a lot.  Keep them barefoot all of the time. It keeps ice from balling up on the heels of the horses and depending on what part of winter, especially the point when winter gets heading into the muck of spring, putting the horses tails in a mud braid can be beneficial to keeping it clean and from dragging in the mud, but as an alternative just running a long braid, folding the hair back and taking a leg wrap to the tail is better and easier.  I do not recommend keeping tails braided all the time nor wrapped all the time as the tail bone needs to breathe and you can cause more harm than good to the tail in the long run especially if you leave it wrapped for too long.  How long is too long, well that depends on your horse. You could actually cause the tail to lose hair in patches and scar the tail if you leave it wrapped too long.    Horses like to rub and if the braid with or without a wrap is left, they will be inclined to rub even more.  It is really not all that difficult to keep a nice long tail managed and burr free.  Just keep it combed regular and dont let the burrs start.
 
As for the option of go or  nogo.. would greatly depend on the call to start with.  As a spontaneous volunteer we have more of the option to chose on that.  Common sense and knowing your limitations are key factors.  Hate seeing anyone letting their egos override their abilities in no matter what the weather.  Seems winter and snow though has always got to give some crazy their moment in the sun to display doing a lot of stupid and put someone else in jeoprody no less any team.
 
Case in point, knowing where the ice is and whether or not the ice will hold is a lot different that guessing.
 
Ride smart, ride safe!
    
        Karen
Luke 9:11
But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
Luke 9:10-12 (in Context) Luke 9 (Whole Chapter)
 
 
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  • [MSAR] MSAR Winter search - Clothes, Karen Nesbitt, 01/21/2011

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