Re: RC: We're All Learning As We Go

[Dbeverly4@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/8/99 12:07:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
tobytrot@bigfoot.com writes:

<<   "Perfecting" your performance at LD (if you mean
 placing higher) in fact creates a sprinter not a stayer, and HINDERS the
 horse's ability to learn to do longer rides.  >>

Well, I'm about to put that into practice.  My 'seasoned' endurance horse, 
Harca, apparently whacked his right rear superficial tendon on something and 
was off at the last ride.  After an ultrasound we found a 35% tear in that 
tendon and he will require 6 months off before he's ready to return to what 
he loves.  It will be, I'm sure, very hard on both of us.  He was perfectly 
ready to go for his 6th completion of the Tevis (out of 7 attempts) I am, as 
you all would be, heartbroken.  I miss my buddy. (after only three days of 
lay-off!).  A couple of things I'd like to share that I learned along the way 
(20/20 being hind-sight).  Barney Fleming noticed that Harca "looked funny" 
at check-in at Mt. Laguna (an awesome ride, by the way) Friday afternoon.  I 
thought that he was seeing a horse who had been trailered 5 hours and needed 
to pee.  I took him away, warmed him up, and let him pee.  Brought him back 
-- he was ok.  Honestly, I could tell in Barney's eyes that he still had some 
reservations.  I wish I'd paid attention.  13 miles into the ride, I felt a 
kind of funny hitch in Harca's stride.  I  KNEW he was off.  Tailed/walked 
him into the next vetcheck (approx. 7 miles) and pulled him.  Barney was 
there and asked if he could see.  Yup, same symptoms he'd been skeptical of.  
Neither Barney, nor I could predict the future, just wish I'd gone with my 
gut (and Barney's) in the first place and not ridden Harca that weekend.  My 
vet, however, said that it probably didn't worsen the condition (could it be 
he didn't want a hysterical female crying all over him?). Sooooo, here we are 
on a 6 month unasked for vacation with the new guy (Star) on deck.  We'll see 
how he does.  I love this sport and all the people involved and, right now, I 
really miss my horse.  See you all on the trail!

Sylvia


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