Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures - Heidi Smith
The problem with this, Truman, is that there are
enough that look just great soon after they come in (hence aren't asked
back for a recheck) that deteriorate during the hold that just aren't caught by
this method.
Heidi
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 9:12
AM
Subject: Re: [RC] RC: Vetting
procedures
In this region we pretty much do go to the check after the
pulse down. Some vets want to see how well they recover, i.e. how long it
takes the to pulse down (and most do look at the times) and what they look
like during the recovery phase. But if there is any question or the feeling
that they are infact running on guts, they hold their card and have them
return before going out.
I do think the CRI at some point right before
they go back out is a good idea - at least at about midway on a 50 and maybe a
couple times on a 100.
Truman
Heidi Smith wrote:
Heidi is absolutely correct. I've seen many vets do a full exam on a horse, including the CRI in about a minute from the time the horse steps in till they are finished. Not only does looking at all the parameters give the vet a good idea what is going on, it gives the rider a good idea also and they are much better informed to make smart decisions..
I'll add, too, Truman, that in well over 250 rides vetted, I've only seen one horse crash that truly gave us what I would consider no signs of pending problems at the prior vet check, despite what another poster suggested. (She did not, however, have all A's.) That particular mare did not "feel" right to her rider, who opted to pull anyway, and the mare crashed three hours later. Yes, I've seen a few with all A's up to a vet check BEFORE they started showing signs of problems--but the signs DO show up in almost all cases long enough before a horse crashes that in most cases one can prevent a crash by pulling. One of the BIG problems I see prevalent at AERC rides is vetting horses through immediately after they pulse down, rather than waiting until toward the ends of their holds--I've picked up MANY horses not fit to go on that "let their hair down" so to speak during the hold, but were running on guts and adr
enaline and looked perfectly fine right after they pulsed down. At far too many rides, these horses are already vetted through and end up back out on the trail, only to crash at the NEXT check--but if they are vetted after their holds, they are caught in time to either pull or to slow down substantially BEFORE the damage occurs. I was intrigued at Fort Howes that even though we were made to vet through right after our pulse-down, we were nonetheless required to represent for a mini-exam just prior to leaving. Perhaps vets are beginning to figure this out?? I thought that the duplication of effort was a bit wasteful (having to essentially vet through twice) but did think it was a step in the right direction. Hopefully eventually more vets will learn to direct managers to simply send the horses on to their camps or crews after pulse-down (with the proviso that we are glad to look at any horse the rider wishes to have seen at any time d
uring the check, but that the actual vetting-out won't be done until the end), and simply have the horses back to present 5-10 minutes before they are due to leave. This really catches a lot more problems in the early stages--and after all, the goal here is to PREVENT crashes, not to just be there when they happen.
Heidi
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- Replies
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- RE: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Bob Morris
- Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Rob
- Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Heidi Smith
- Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Truman Prevatt
- Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Heidi Smith
- Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Truman Prevatt
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