Re: RC: what IS rider option?

[Teresa Van Hove <tvanhove@uswest.net>]

OH COME ON-

> (Yes, Randy, multi-days are a special challenge,
> but what keeps a crew from at least driving with the horse to the next
> checkpoint and having the horse checked?)  If there is as much abuse of this
> concept as you and others suggest, then perhaps the veterinary committee
> should look into this problem.
> 
> Heidi
Deciding a horse doesn't feel right(soundness wise) so you 
are not going to ride 20+ miles to a check point hardly
means the horse needs to be seen by a vet.  Its not that
very different from deciding a horse isn't right at home
and not going to a ride.  You can bet I don't pull my busy
vet out for "not quite rights" at home. I give a little dose
of father time and if the situation doesn't clear up then
I get the vet out.  I think we can trust responsible riders
who say to another rider "tell management I'm pulling, my
horse is not moving quite right" to know whether they need
a vets exam or not.  The whole point of having a policy 
of vets checking pulls is to get accurate info rather then
having non informative RO's on a bunch of pulls.  Now if
its not clear whether something like this would be called
L or RO, then perhaps my suggestion of a RO L, would be
helpful.  And perhaps we need OT L's too, if it does not
get recorded that a horse was lame and OT that is not
helpful for education or research is it?  

Teresa