The MSAR Riding Boot Camp, scheduled during the week before ESCAPE, has been cancelled due to insufficient enrollment.
April 30-May 2
ESCAPE 2004 will be held at
Bonita Park Nazarene Camp and Conference Center
on Highway 48 between Ruidoso and Capitan, New Mexico.
Six hours of MSAR-specific training:
My Horse & I - This three level course will provide instructions on preparing a mount for SAR field work, what the mount will need in the field, and basic field first aid for the mount. Instructor will be Dr. Marvin Hays, DVM.
Training and Fielding SAR Horses and Teams - Classroom presentation (indoors, unmounted) on challenges and opportunities for mounted search and rescue (MSAR) responders, emphasizing New Mexico, but including lessons learned in many other parts of the world. Back by popular demand from ESCAPE 2003, but with much new material. The session will end with an optional pack check and discussion of gear needed for MSAR. Special equipment: bring all the gear you usually take on MSAR missions into the field (i.e., away from base camp), and photos of your rig and your mount tacked up and ready for work. Note: Bonita Park does not allow horses on the property, but the area is very horse-friendly. Instructor will be Una Smith.
[ Course Schedule (39KB PDF) ][ Course Descriptions (106KB PDF) ]
Registration
ESCAPE (Emergency Services Council Annual Preparedness Event)
is presented by New Mexico Emergency Services Council (NMESC).
each year on the first weekend in May. On-site registration
and check-in begins Friday afternoon and the main program runs
Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon.
Special interest groups (for MSAR, SAR dog, etc.) may organize
intensive training in the days before or after ESCAPE; these
are not part of the official program, so you should ask
around to find out what is on offer.
The minimum cost is $25 (registration only), maximum is $120,
depending on the meal and lodging options you choose.
Meals are available Friday dinner through Sunday lunch.
Lodging is available Friday and Saturday nights.
Lodging options include private rooms, bunk rooms, RV hookups,
and tent sites.
Lodging is first come first served, so plan to register early.
Download the
registration form.
Bringing your horse
(Note that Bonita Park does not allow horses on-site,
but some local businesses and park campgrounds welcome horses
for overnight and/or short term stays.)
Horses traveling across New Mexico state lines
need documents 1-3 below, which must be obtained in sequence.
Horses traveling across New Mexico county lines
need document 1.
Document 1:
Proof of ownership, such as
(a) a state-issued horse transportation permit ("hauling papers")
or
(b) breed registration papers or
(c) a bill of sale with a description of the horse that is sufficient
to make a positive identification.
You do not need to own the horse you bring into New Mexico; you
only need proof of ownership.
If you have no proof of ownership (as is common for ranch bred
horses), you can create it by getting a transportation permit,
which allows you to attest to a state livestock inspector that
you own the horse.
If your state does not provide transportation permits, contact
your state department of agriculture or other agency to find out
what arrangement can be made.
Document 2:
Proof of a negative test within the previous 12 months for
Equine Infectious Anemia (commonly known as a "Coggins test").
You must obtain proof of ownership before getting the Coggins
test, so the test result can be securely linked to your horse.
The test works as follows: you make an appointment for your
veterinarian to draw a blood sample from your horse. The vet
sends the sample out to a laboratory that is approved by the
USDA to do this testing. The vet receives the results form
in duplicate by mail a week or two later, keeps one duplicate
on file, and gives or sends you the other duplicate.
Usually the most convenient time to have blood drawn for this
test is during your horse's regular vet work in the spring or
fall.
Document 3:
A veterinary certificate of health issued not more than a few
days before the start of your trip. Get this certificate from your
veterinarian by making an appointment for her to briefly examine
your horse.
During the appointment, show her documents 1 and 2. She will
fill out a form and give you a duplicate form sheet on the spot.
Many people put all three documents together in an envelope with
the horse's name written on it and keep this envelope in the glove
box of their tow vehicle. Just be sure these documents travel
with the horse!
Prior years
ESCAPE 2003 was held at
Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron, New Mexico.
MSAR-specific training consisted of:
(1)
a 90-minute class on MSAR for both MSAR volunteers and SAR
managers;
and
(2) a 3-hour mounted field exercise in basic orienteering
(map and compass use in the backcountry).
(See Ian Vowles' photo gallery; click on the ">" to advance.)
ESCAPE 2001 was held at Bonita Park.
http://www.ibiblio.org/msar/events/ESCAPE.html
20 May 2003, updated 24 March 2004
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