Ridecamp: Re: [RC] practical suggestions re leaving early

>Unless otherwise recommended by the treatment vet (ie, referring to a
clinic), or barring unusual circumstances (home is VERY close by), then IMO
I wouldn't suggest loading up for home if any of the following criteria are
present:

This was a good list of criteria for not hauling a horse within the few
hours post-ride.  However, I'd add one more consideration to the "unusual
circumstances" category--and that is the predicted ambient conditions coming
in in camp that night.  With our early spring and late fall rides here in
the Far North, if there is likely to be a serious temperature drop
(especially if accompanied by winds or other "chill factor" sorts of
things), GET THAT STRESSED HORSE OUTTA THERE!  If home is a long way, ask
around for a good stopping place (fellow endurance rider an hour away,
fairgrounds, whatever) where there is shelter for your horse.  But if he has
the sorts of problems Susan named off, don't subject him to a central Oregon
high desert winter night tied to the trailer or stuck in a tiny makeshift
corral.  I'm likely overly sensitive to this, having vetted rides under such
circumstances fairly routinely for 20 years, but it can be as much of a
special challenge as dealing with heat and humidity in other parts of the
country in the summer.

The bottom line is always to weigh potential risks against potential
benefits.  And if at all in doubt, corner one of the ride veterinarians and
ask advice.  This is a subject that a great many riders have come to me to
discuss over the years, prior to loading up and heading out, to make sure
they are making a safe and sane choice.  (The very fact that they come and
ask the ride vets if it is ok to trailer home now is indicative of the fact
that the vast majority of riders are NOT uncaring about the condition of
their horses, and indeed DO want to do right by them.)  The majority of
horses come into camp and hoover down everything in sight that is edible,
drain their water buckets, and temporarily sated, have a snooze in the sun.
Most are, indeed, "fit to continue"--so after a few hours of what amounts to
a king-sized hold after the final vet check in which they can do the above
to their heart's content, they simply go out on the "next loop" which is the
ride home.  I think of it as if the horse is not "fit to continue" then he
shouldn't be going out on that "next loop" in the trailer, either, until
he's had more time to repair himself, and possibly some veterinary
attention.

And to Susan's list of no-no's, I'd add the horse that is a chronic poor
trailerer (if there is such a word).  Most of my own horses will sleep in
the trailer, eat in the trailer, drink in the trailer, pee in the trailer,
etc., but I worry about the ones that get wall-eyed and stand there rigid
and fretting.  And of course, that may well be a training issue to deal with
at home--most likely by the driver learning how to tow a trailer so that the
horse doesn't have to anticipate getting slapped up alongside the partition
on every turn or stop.

Heidi


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