Mounted search and rescue

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

Well said Chris- 

I asked the original side saddle question because of MSAR standards and not 
to create discord within this group (this was a topic
that I've never encountered during my 39 years of performing SAR).  As we all 
know, SAR protocols have changed a great deal since
9-11-2001.  Nowadays many MSAR standards are mirroring the U.S. Department of 
Interior's Mounted Search Technician position and the
numerous State (level) accepted MSAR standards.  Additionally, physical 
fitness requirements for all SAR personnel are also becoming
both performance and physical fitness based.  Sometimes a local MSAR team 
does things that are not seen within general SAR/MSAR
standards or commonly accepted protocols and if a local AHJ/RA accepts their 
way of doing business, then any liability issues fall
upon them.  More and more teams are training to a very similar set of MSAR 
standards. that contain the same KSA's and testing
procedures.  MSAR standards help teams assign their members to missions based 
upon the best interest of the mounted team/teams
deployed on the actual needs of the mission.  On the down side, MSAR 
standards are not based upon the personal preferences of an
individual  team member.
 
My MSAR  team has been serving 5 states for over 21 years and in February of 
this year we completed our 100th search mission.  I
personally have help with the development of ASTM Mounted SAR responder 
standard, but found it complexing that some teams don't take
the time review and follow the protocols of the two state MSAR standards that 
are referenced within the F2794 document.  Over the
past 2 years, I've chaired the Pennsylvania MSAR Standards committee and I'm 
happy to say PA now has their first ever set of MSAR
standards.  In October of 2012 I travelled to Iceland and certified their 
first MSAR team. Although some folks consider me an expert
within MSAR, I still have much to learn and try to keep an open mind with new 
changes and current best practices.  After spending
close to 3000 miles in the saddle,  I realize that the day will soon come 
that I can still ride, but will no longer be physically
fit to perform SAR.  I consider myself blessed that I have been able to match 
my MSAR experience with an equal amount of actual MSAR
deployments and formal training and then share what I know with others.  
 
I hope to see some of you at the 2013 NASAR Conference next week and at the 
ASTM F-32 SAR Committee meeting that will take place
next Saturday.
 
Ride safe,
 
T'mi   

________________________________

From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org 
[mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of pennbo@verizon.net
Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2013 9:24 PM
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Side Saddle Questions


As I expected the language used to tell others they are wrong has sparked an 
unhappy dialogue.  Irv, you are an experienced and
talented search and rescue member but you are not the ONLY experienced and 
talented person on this list. You know YOUR area and YOUR
state's requirements. Stop for a minute and think about how much you don't 
know. It's always humbling. 

Ignorance IS curable with education but you must be willing to learn. Part of 
that education is to learn about the other standards
and requirements some of us must operate under. While it is true that an 
agency may not randomly discriminate based JUST on
disability it is also true that if there are requirements for safety that can 
not be met then NO ONE, disabled or not, has to be
accepted at a volunteer at that position.  

Searchers in my region are given many standards we must meet- equipment, 
animals, skill levels, riding ability, animal's training,
uniforms, etc. We have had some input into those standards but the final call 
is NOT our unit's. Those requirements/standards are
getting tighter and tighter in a CYA response to accidents happening. While 
personally I would be tempted to put a side-saddle rider
through their paces and see if the INDIVIDUAL could be a functioning searcher 
in most situations- it might not ever be my choice. I
have known many fantastic trail horses that were exceptional ambassadors for 
their breeds but because they are stallions they may
not participate in any search and rescue function in my area. Sometimes the 
general overall ability/funtion/possibility of a
specific circumstance overrides the individual. 

While searching in dangerous terrain we must concentrate totally on our own 
mount and our own circumstances- there really is no time
to worry about a team members abilities. We actually recently discussed this 
as we are often assigned to mixed teams on mutual aid
call-outs. On a mixed team we have NO idea about the other teams' abilities 
or weaknesses. I have a measure of confidence in riders
that are from our region/county as we are trained to the same standards- and 
we can rely on that basic ability. Communication is
key- but is not always honest. I would rather err on the safe side then to 
get a rider into a potentially fatal situation. Last week
we rode some very rough terrain on a search. We had four members from another 
team with us that were not familiar with our area.
There were several places in our search area that could be potentially VERY 
dangerous - soft narrow ledge trails above 400-600ft
drops. We avoided those. BUT we rode some other very rough terrain because we 
had confidence that this team was trained to the same
standard and could handle it. They did- quite well. We might have gone back 
to cover the ledge area later with members of our own
team but the missing person was discovered first. 

Which is to say if our standards included a side-saddle as equipment I'd 
welcome that person into my unit and not question their
ability more than anyone elses! They don't currently include side-saddle and 
without being able to discuss the actual issue here
openly and without flaming I won't have anything to add to any discussion 
that arises in the future. That's rather a loss. 

Chris