To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Improving MSAR Part 1
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 16:45:40 -0700
I appreciate your position, David. Perhaps it would help to understand that
the training Terry mentions is specific to using the horse like an Air
Scenting Dog that you can ride. It works. I wish all MSAR horses and riders
had this training because they'd be so much more effective in the field. The
horse is aware of much more in the field than the rider, and can make a
valuable contribution using those existing senses. I'd even like to see the
air scenting horse training as a requirement for MSAR, but at this point it
isn't feasible. But this is a whole new level of capability for MSAR to
aspire to reach.
And perhaps it wasn't clearly indicated in his prior post, but Terry Nowacki
is the person who had this brilliant idea to train the horse to use the
inherent capabilities and follow the scent cone and Alert, as well as being
the only person in the world who teaches this clinic. So he would be very
aware of whether he had taught any clinics in Utah where riders and their
air scenting horses might be participating in the search for Garrett.
I see substantial opportunity for MSAR to improve. There has been little
change in MSAR in the past 100+ years, and much potential improvement is
based on what we can learn from history. Reality is we've even lost ground
in MSAR capabilities - a natural evolution as the horse became a specialty
instead of common in daily life. But Terry identified a capability that
exists naturally in the horse, and turned the common "horse is
transportation" into a functional search partner - a giant stride for MSAR.
The rest of us who understand the huge value of the air scenting horse
training are saying "Why didn't *I* think of that?" because it is so obvious
an advantage and so obvious a potential when you consider common herd
behavior ... yet nobody has gone there before in MSAR. ;-/
Terry isn't the only one who promotes his clinics. I mention and recommend
the air scenting horse training every time I teach because I think that kind
of training is invaluable, yet so few are even aware it exists. And I know
several SAR riders who have been through his clinics who rave about their
increased capabilities in the field. If word isn't spread, people won't know
the opportunity exists to ride an air scenting horse. So at the risk of
offending <g> I'll repeat the link www.airscentinghorse.com and strongly
recommend the training.
And while I don't remotely want to sound like I'm bashing the Mounted SAR
Ops for Garret ... they might be well above the average quality for MSAR
response ... but I'll bet the ranch there are more ways to use Mounted in
that operational area that haven't been considered yet. And I'm not just
referring to the air scenting horse training. There is *always* room to
improve, and the typical MSAR team and even horse-experienced SAR Management
have a lot of options that are commonly not even on their radar.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare SAR - Hasty Team ICP Team
www.ceoates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT
www.tk-cert.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "David C. Kovar" <kovar@1srg.org>
[...] You might find that
it is a situation where MSAR resources are being well used and could be used
as an example of doing things right rather than as an example of
underperformance.
[...] I'd also suggest making a distinction between promoting enhanced
standards
and utilization and promoting a particular technique and instructor. Jorene
is making a point for the former while Terry appears to be promoting his own
clinics.
-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of Jorene Downs
----- Original Message -----
From: "David C. Kovar" <kovar@1srg.org>
They've been using both
mules and horses quite effectively.
I would agree with Terry that the vast majority of Mounted teams are not
used to the full extent of their capabilities, and Mounted in general has
potential that hasn't been explored that could be very advantageous.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs