Is it safe to go to the show?

["Tracey" <tracey@tbt.co.za>]

Hi, all.  Am in somewhat of a quandary at present.  Conflicting advice from all around me, and own mind has been eradicated by masses of boring facts taken in whilst studying for exam.  Need advice please.

 

 

Piglet came down with a "mystery" virus on 2 September.  Temp of 39C, not eating, very lethargic.  Treated with massive Vit B injection and penicillin (slight cough, so worried about secondary infection).  Didn't eat til Sunday afternoon (spent Saturday and Sunday night outside stable, conveyancing notes in hand, telling myself that I was Sainted person to be studying and watching over poor ill horse, definitely deserving of Nobel prize)

 

 

Anyway, by Monday pm, Piglet was fine again.  Last penicillin shot Sunday, and will keep him out of work till Saturday, then do light schooling again.

 

 

Toc is very flat at the moment.  No signs of virus apart from that, although he was coughing a bit when worked on Tuesday.  Might have been dust (very windy and dry), but not sure.  Pulse, temp, resp normal.  Eating normally.  Problem is that he tends to fight these things then suddenly gets really ill.

 

 

I had entered both of them for a two-phase show on 17 Sep.  Two novice dressage tests and a short, training, XC course (16 fences, max height 80cm, total length of course approx 1 km).  Will Piglet be over the virus sufficiently by then to go to the show?  He has not done XC before, and is not as fit as Toc.  Should I take Toc, bearing in mind he has shown no sign of getting the virus?  I have upped his concentrates from 1.5 kg per day to 2.5 kg per day, but haven't ridden him since Sunday (studying, remember!) and won't ride till Friday / Saturday, depending on work.  If he is still flat, should I pull out of the show?

 

 

My heart says to pull out, my head says I'm being paranoid.  My vet says I'm being paranoid.  My instructor says "wait and see" and will probably then tell me I'm being paranoid.  Husband says pull out, but he always says that as I am Bitch from Hell before a show. 

 

Any and all advice would be appreciated.  Except for "wait and see".  That will receive terse response.

 

 

Tracey