Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I agree with the others that a L pull code was correct in this instance.  Even though the rider turned around and "eliminated themselves from the competition" by going back to the start, IF a vet was not available, the rider *would* have had the option of then turning around and going back out on the trail to the next regulated checkpoint.  They were not actually eliminated from the competition officially until the vet had evaluated their horse.  As Valerie proved recently, it's possible to be "off course" for some time but still remain in the competition.  =)

 

*IF* whenever the vet is able to look at the horse, whether that be upon return to the start, the next checkpoint, or not until 3+ hours later when a vet is back in camp again, then the pull should be determined from that evaluation.  If the horse still presents as lame, then L.  If the horse has been in camp for 3 hours and presents sound, then technically nothing would have prevented that rider from returning to the competition up until the time of the evaluation (notwithstanding their caring for the welfare of their horse), and a RO-L code would be appropriate.  The rider could have turned around, come back to camp for 2 hours, realized the horse was sound, then gone back out and continued down the trail.  I would assume at this point that as long as they met whatever cut-off times might be in place, and the horse continued to present sound, then nothing would prevent them from finishing the ride.

 

To me it's pretty clear, pull codes are based upon the veterinary judgement at the time of the evaluation.  If the horse is deemed fit to continue by the vet, then the RO codes are allowable.  But the vet's opinion has to come first/supersede that of the rider.

 

~ Crysta Turnage

 

On 1/15/08, John Teeter <johnt@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Jan 15, 2008, at 9:44 AM, Beth Walker wrote:

> I disagree.  In this example, the horse went lame between two
> control points (preride and vet check 1).  The next time the horse
> could be officially pulled would be at Vet Check 1
This is an interesting point. If, the rider turns around and goes
back to the previous check-point(the start in your example), they
have already eliminated themselves from the competition. (for not
following the prescribed trail)

They would never receive an in-time at Vet Check 1, nor would the vet
at Vet Check 1 ever get a chance to look at the horse. In fact, if
all the vets left camp and went to vet check1 it's quite possible
there would be no evaluation for quite some time and -

> , and the vet has the first crack at it.  Therefore:  LAME, not RO-L.
It is possible that, by the time the vet evaluates the horse,
whatever problem was there has gone away. In this case, the rider had
"first crack at it", therefor RO-L not L :)

> The way I read the articles and AERC rules, the vet must have a
> chance to look at the horse after whatever went wrong happened.
> Only then, if the vet passes the horse, can the rider elect an RO-X
> code.
>
This is in agreement (sort of) with Eric's view, and while it may be
the intent, it is not specifically articulated that way in either the
rules or the other publications. My contention is that more attention
needs to be placed in the articulation of both the basic rule(s) and
the associated procedures (as stipulated in the vet manual and
summarized in Melissa's article) to insure that ALL rides everywhere
use the same procedures.

This little discussion has shown that there are easily formed
interpretations which lead to different outcomes with respect to
these RO-x pull codes. As long as that is the case, the RO-L, RO-M,
and RO-SF pull codes really have no meaning, for ride managers and
vets will not be uniformly using the codes as they report
eliminations at their events.

jt


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

-- 
~ Crysta

"Those of us who finish near the back, make the rest of you look good."