SUMTER COUNTY MOUNTED RESERVE
STANDARD TRAINING PROCEDURES
ESTABLISHED April 10, 2013
While in Uniform and / or while presenting oneself as a member of the Sumter County Mounted Reserve, members of the Posse shall be governed by the Articles of Organization, Standard Operating Procedures, Standard Training Procedures and Posse Rules and Regulations.
All members of the Sumter County Mounted Reserve  is expected to participate in initial Certification for each division in which the wish to participate as well as maintaining Continuing Education  Training participation  as required by their division.  Some trainings  will be considered shareable between divisions. Each training will be identified for which training criteria it meets.  Certain outside activities may be approved as CETs.  (IE: Obstacle Challenges, Roping Competitions)  Every time a team “serves” this is also considered training time.
EVERY Posse Rider and  Horse must be Certified as team for  the division in which they will participate.
As a member of a posse you will be held to behavioral standard beyond what is expected of the average individual.  Your conduct reflects on Sumter County Mounted Reserve.
Conduct and Behavior while in Public View
• Mounted – No smoking, eating and absolutely no alcohol while on horseback
• Un-mounted – absolutely no alcohol
• No non certified persons shall ride, sit on or hold Posse horses.
• There shall be no harsh discipline or mistreatment of the horses.
• Posse members shall present themselves in a courteous and professional manner at all times.
Agenda for Trainings
• All members will sign in and list their partner (horse)
• Review of schedule and goals for the training
• Inspection of tack, horse and rider.
• Warm up
• Training will have proper hydration and breaks
• Appropriate Cool Down
• Review of Training.
Warm up shall consist of flexing horses both directions, walking horses in both directions (approx. 10 min)  and then trotting horses in both directions (approx. 5 min) making tear drop moves.  Everyone travels in the same direction and at the same speed.  Instructors to assist riders as needed.

Suggested Items to bring with you for trainings and events for ALL divisions may include but are not limited to:
• Coggins!  Required!
• Walkie talkie for speaking with your ground crew
• Gatorade / water  (no sodas)  
• Bug spray,
• Sunscreen
• sunglasses
• Rain gear
• Posse cap
• Energy bars, snacks or lunch
• Multi-tool (like a leatherman)
• Hay in haynet or other food for your partner
• Water for your horse (or at least a bucket)
• Electrolytes for your horse
• Lead rope
• Splint boots to protect the horses leg
• First aid supplies for horse and rider
Division Chiefs may alter items as need dictates
Basic Training / Evaluation for all Divisions – Members can expect to be requested to know and execute
• Stand quietly
• Able to be approached and touched
• Walk
• Trot
• Reverse at the trot
• Back 4 steps one step at a time
• Haunches in
•  Haunches out
• Turn on haunches
• Turn on forehand
• Leg yield
• Side pass
• Pivot in a box
• Serpentine
• Back in an L
• Negotiate a simple obstacle

Training by Division
Initial training and continuing education training requirements are for both horse and rider.  If a rider has multiple horses, than each horse must meet the minimum in training requirements.   Outside programs such as, but not limited to,  Competitive Obstacle Challenges, first aide training, formation riding,   mounted patrol programs, cattle drives, cutting training and roping, should be presented to the board for approval. Outside participation / training is encouraged.
Certification  must be signed off on by at least 2 of the following 3 individuals. Training Coordinator, Division Chief, Director. 
Mounted Patrol  and Parade horses must be able to safely and calmly complete a walk from base camp to a downtown area and back, navigating a neighborhood and all items (such as dogs and kids)  as well as walking along a heavily trafficked area (like 471) that includes everything from tractors to semis as part of their certification.  Each new horse should be partnered with a proven horse.  (A proven team has already made this walk successfully.) Safety is  the number one priority during this walk.  If you have concerns about your horse’s ability to perform safely prior to the attempt notify the trainer. 

Mounted Patrol Division -   Members shall take an approved mounted patrol training program for initial training which consists of but is not limited to:  basic horsemanship, basic equitation, basic formation riding, basic search patterns, basic crowd control, basic sensory and obstacle training, basic self-defense from horseback,  basic patrol procedures.  Members should be able to mount and dismount without a mounting block.  Continuing Education Training  requirements will be evenly divided among and  include additional sensory and obstacle training especially in relation to traffic and events, additional search training, first aide training,  additional formation / parade style training,  socialization with the public and additional patrol procedures.  Members of this unit are encouraged to participate in a cattle drive training at least 1x per year.  Minimum Continuing Education Training requirements is 10 hours within a 6 month period. 

Formation / Drill / Parade  Division – Members shall participate in basic formation training and must be able to complete maneuvers at the trot with proper spacing  prior to testing for this Division.  Joint practice is essential to the success of this division.  Reputation rides with every performance.   Entry level riders are encouraged to practice with the team but must be intermediate or advanced level to perform for the public.  All teams participating at performance levels must complete and meet the sensory trainings  required for working in an event or parade setting.  Minimum Continuing Education Training requirements is at least  10 hours within a 6 month period with at least 2 hours involving sensory training.  Grooming / Appearance for public performance is strict and teams must pass inspection prior to public performance.  Division shall set guidelines.
Basic Formation / Drill Training  – Members can expect to be requested to know and execute
• Terms
• Be able to call the maneuvers and create a drill
• Execute all maneuvers at the trot / cantor
• Spatial recognition
• Timing
• Confirmation in uniform / tack
• Willing to commit the time required to be part of a cohesive and professional team
• Willingness to participate in parades, demonstrations or competitions and commit to the team

Search and Rescue Division – Members of this division need to understand that they will be called out in Emergency and Non-emergency situations.  Members need to keep supplies in ready stock for call out. Members shall take an approved Search and Rescue training program for participation in this division.  It shall consist of but not be limited to Basic Search patterns, dressing (you and your horse) for search and rescue, proper equipment for search and rescue, basic evaluation of “patient’ and first aid techniques. Continuing Education Training requirement minimums will be 6 hours within a 6 month period.  Training shall be evenly divided between search  practices and basic first aid reviews.  Searches can vary from easy access and movement up to dense or hazardous terrain.  Members shall always make their safety and the safety of their horse a priority.

Cattle Division – Members of this division need to understand that they will likely get called out in the middle of the night, and must be prepared to meet Emergent (Quick) Response Times. Members shall take an approved cattle training program that will include  but not be limited to reading cattle, how to move cattle, cutting a cow out of the herd,  introducing your horse to roping as well as basic roping techniques.  Continuing Education Training requirement minimums will be 6 hours within a 6 month period.  It should consist of cattle moving, cutting and roping techniques.  Outside programs such as Cattle Drives, Competitive cutting and roping should be presented for potential training credits. Situations can vary from daytime  where traffic is light, heavy traffic situations or night in low traffic situations.  Night  in heavy traffic situations is extremely dangerous and we advise against. The safety of you and your horse is your number one priority.
Non-mounted Division  -  Members of this division keeps the mounted division mounted!  Members who wish to handle horses shall take and approved horsemanship training program that will include but not be limited to basic evaluation of horse and rider during and after a training or event; how to properly hold, lead and tie a horse; how to properly remove tack  and walk out a horse; how and when  to rinse a horse after use; how to move horses around other horses;  how to walk around a horse and  how to recognize signs of aggression in a horse.  Horse handlers will be requested to participate in an annual review. Non-mounted members should be partnered to a mounted member and have access to  their horse for training.  Non-mounted members are encouraged to participate in any and all first aide trainings for both horse and rider that is offered thru any division.  Entry level may assist in all non-horse activities.  Intermediate may assist with their  mounted partner’s horse at the partner’s discretion.  Advanced level members may assist with any posse member’s horse at the mounted-members discretion.
Purpose of attending trainings is to familiarize yourself with the horse / rider team you will be assisting and to become familiar with “normal” status or behavior.   Assistance is always needed with training preparation, obstacles and sensory items,  assisting rider with things like flags or water or to  assist with the horse.  Non-mounted riders should also be prepared to assist in an emergency situation when called upon.
Junior Division Members – may participate in trainings at the discretion of the Division Chief and /or trainer / training coordinator.  If a Junior Division Member is removed from training for behavioral reasons, there shall be a subsequent review by the Board of Directors within 7 days.  Junior Division Members may train for non-mounted level status.

Basic Sensory Training required for Parade participation and / or Mounted Patrol (suggested cross training for cattle)  may include but is not limited to:
• Car and Truck Horns (especially air horns)
• Police lights and sirens
• Loud music and crowd noise
• Crowds or lines of people clapping
• Water guns and water balloons
• Fans, bubbles, beads
• Wheel chairs and walkers
• “Kids” in wagons
• Firecrackers, noise-makers and gunfire
• Motorcycles, Loud trucks and machinery such as tractors and mowers
• Smoke, Flares and fire
• Signs, banners and flags,
• Balloons, umbrellas and balls
• Silly string, poppers and  streamers
• Paper and plastic blowing
Be aware that sensory items will be added, changed or intensified  at each training. The instructor will inform the riders on what to expect. No surprises!
While participating in sensory training always remain calm and patient with your horse. Remember to reward your horse when he/she does well. Harsh discipline is not acceptable.   Set your horse up for success by following approved sensory introduction measures.  Keep your instructor informed if you have concerns about any object during training.  Safety is always first!  Repetitive training with patience is the key to success.
Basic Obstacle Training for Search and Rescue  and / or Mounted Patrol (suggested for cattle)  shall include but will not be limited to:
• Tires,  bicycles, wagons, children’s toys, barbed wire
• Bags of garbage and cans
• Shopping cart
• Furniture
• Plastic bags to tarps
• Construction items
• Mattress
• Garbage cans and mail boxes
• Lawn Art
• Teeter Totter
• Wall of Tubes or tunnel
• Step platforms and bridges
• Heavy undergrowth and vines (horses should have preparatory training)
• Water obstacles and sprinklers
• Touch items (branches to noodles)
• People
Be aware that obstacle items will be added, changed or intensified  at each training. The instructor will inform the riders on what to expect. No surprises!
While participating in obstacle or sensory training always remain calm and patient with your horse. Remember to reward your horse when he/she does well. Harsh discipline is not acceptable.   Set your horse up for success by following approved obstacle / sensory introduction measures.  Keep your instructor informed if you have concerns about any object during training.  Safety is always first!  Repetitive training with patience is the key to success.
We encourage all posse members to attend as many different trainings as possible on as many different horses as possible.  While attendance at trainings is never mandatory, proficiency at a requested level is mandated for the safety of both horse and rider prior to participation in any event.  Please understand that the safety of each team is priority one and policies and  trainings are designed with that purpose in mind.

As approved by the General Members on April 10, 2013

Training Coordinator __________________________________________________
Secretary ___________________________________________________________

 

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