I think kind of a regional thing with pulse boxes,
and use of them, and design. I was used to being scattered in the vet area, and
calling for a P&R, and having the volunteer come to me, and if down, they
yelled for time, and a timer yelled out an official time. we then went to vet on
our own. Rarely pulled tack. Then, moved to TX, and our local rides at the
LBJ Grasslands all use the same basic pulse box set up. All checks in camp,
often 150-200 total horses between all distances. We put up stakes / electric
fence posts, and run the small yellow nylon rope to make a pulse box, that flows
into the vet line. As rider enters pulse box, a person takes their number,
writes it down, and the time they ENTER. Pulse is taken. If indeed at criteria,
pulse taker calls for "time on number..... " and they call back with the time
they wrote down as that person entered the box. If the horse is NOT down, they
exit, and get a 5 min. penalty, and can not re-enter for 5 min. If it is slow,
no line, and horse is not down, most volunteers will stay with horse and wait if
it is close to criteria, until it is reached. But, with 200 horses in a ride, we
don't want folks abusing the pulse box, so most DO wait until they are 100% sure
their horse is ready. Only if we have no line do we give courtesy checks. The
rider should know if their horse is ready. And, while the pulse box flows right
into the vet check line, a rider can choose to leave the line and come back, but
they will lose their place in that line if they don't have someone stand there
for them. This has worked very well for our rides, and most riders in the region
understand the pulse box, and how it functions. But, they are sure not all
alike across the nation!
