first LD questions

["Tina Hicks" <tina@autoairbagcovers.com>]

Jennifer, Hello...I haven't been to Leatherwood but I think the checks are
in camp. That makes it pretty easy to crew for yourself - esp. on a
conservatively ridden 25.  Since you've done CTR and already have an idea of
what it's like to come in off the trail and get your horse ready to present
you won't have any problem. Not sure how different the vet checks are since
I've not done CTR but I can tell you basically what will happen at a ride
check:

-you'll come in from the trail and get an in-time on your card - you now
have 30 minutes to get your horse down to parameters (usually 64bpm but
sometimes 60 depending on the conditions - the vet staff will tell you that
at the ride meeting). The less time you take the sooner your hold time
starts.

-you'll untack/sponge/whatever your horse. If you're riding conservatively
(and even if you're not but your horse is in great shape) he'll be down by
now or within another minute or two. He can (and should be) eat/drink while
you're doing this.

-you'll take horse and vet card to the P/R area where his pulse will be
taken. If he's down, someone will yell "Time on Number XX". You like to hear
those words :) Your hold time (will be anywhere from 20 - 45 minutes set by
the vet staff depending on the conditions - probably will be 20 - 40
minutes)

-You'll get in the line (if there is one) to have your horse vetted. If
there's a long line you might want to bring several carrots or a flake of
hay for your horse to eat while in line - at a few rides (and again, I've
never been to Leatherwood so have no idea what happens there) you'll spend
your hold time in line but that's not too common.

-You'll get to the vet where your horse will pass with flying colors :) and
you can go back to your crew area where your horse can eat, you can potty,
you can eat, you tack back up if needed, etc...

Depending on the camp set-up (and again I've not been to this ride) you'll
either set up a little "station" with maybe a saddle rack, sponge bucket,
feed tub, sponges, cooler/sheet depending on weather, hay and any other
things you want to have handy or you can just crew from your trailer. If the
vet check area is a good ways from the trailers you'll definitely want to
set up a little station.

This kind of check is called a gate into a hold and is the norm in the SE
(at all AERC rides??) for vet checks.

Hope this helps,

Tina - who still remembers about vet checks even though I haven't been to a
ride in a year :-/