My horse was pulled in 2005 at Robinson's with a "thumps?"(yes,the question mark was on the card..)no obvious thumping,but a slight flutter in the flank.No question,I wasn't going to push to go on & take any chances but he had vetted out with all A's & 1 b on vet card.Not dehydrated ,B was gut sounds.A's hydration,MM etc...but he had an "episode" the night before ,panic attack when ride meeting let out & everyone exited through my camp..he FREAKED & it took me an hour to walk him out & calm him so who knows..stress for us both.
This year at 2nd day of Cooley he started acting weird at lunch stop ,thought he might be colicing?so he was pulled & trailered back to camp where he actually did show "thumping"signs finally,was given electrolytes in a tube & fully recovered(EDPP) in an hour.I know I didn't give him enough e-lyes for the conditions that day(very tough ride) and I was feeling so guilty & sad.The kind vet who treated him said.."in the old days when a horse thumped..we gave him a bottle of Gaterade & sent him back out on the trail"Made me feel better but will be keeping a much closer eye on his electrolites from now on..FWIW
