The Making of Endurance Horse2

[Roger Rittenhouse-vmaxept <roger@vmaxept.com>]

THE MAKING OF AN ENDURANCE HORSE - PART2
OMNI - 
This will be LONG

I have not been very active with RC lately- seems I have been quite
busy. But an update on the progress of Omni is now in order. 
I will do my best to keep this too the point and not bore all.
BACKGROUND
Omni is an 8 yr old- started last year on 50 milers. After a bad start-
with assorted problems, he got going. Completed two ride last year- July
at Summer Breeze (8:41) (first 50) a very HOT Humid ride-and Oct at
Biltmore Fall (8:15). Very slow times just easy going
I felt he was not going right- so we went off to UT. XRAY etc showed
very bad sidebones both front and DJD in hock joints M3M4-
Contacted Jay Perry - noted SUPER shoer. Did his magic and got him going
very well. Added a series of Adaquen shots and went to work.
This year  all was working well, we did Hallelujah (9:30?) in Feb,
Greenway ( 9++?) in Mar. Both these rides were also slow -teaching him
to learn about working within limits, eating and drinking on trail and
at the VC. One of his problems was he did not want to eat the VC. Nor
did he eat well in camp before the ride. We stayed in camp at the VC for
additional time until he ate and then went on. He finished these rides
in good order with slow times.
During the at home sessions we worked at faster workout, picking up the
HR and building him for faster rides- getting to 'Racing mode' .. I
quite honestly want a RACER. I want to RACE not ride. He was showing
great improvements during the condx rides here at home. Staying sound
with the shoeing by Jaye Perry and Scott Denmen. I felt it was time to
move him up at the next ride.

Million Pines. We came early on Thursday. Carol was to ride- so he had a
buddy. He ate and drank great all weekend. I modified my electrolyte
protocol this weekend - give small doses of lytes with pro-bi a number
of times per day. Seemed to be better then a few large doses. The
weather was warm but not hot. I planned to let him run. We did- our time
was 5:36. Not going in to any real details but he dropped at the VC in 2
to 3 minutes every time. We did not stay at the VC any longer the we had
to- except for the long vet line- He ate and drank at all 3 checks in
line. Never went off his feed, very willing to eat what ever was
presented. My lytes were same as before- I gave a partial dose of
Lyte-Now on the trail on each loop. He raced in at the finish at a good
strong gallop- for about a mile with 4 riders. HR over 210 at the
finish, so he was working Recovered and completed sound with no issues
in about 10 minutes. Back in the pen he ate well.
We did not place high - but his time was exceptional. He trotted sound
later that day and the next day -looked great. He came  home and all was
well. At this time I felt he was comming  along well - finding his
level. Since he qualified for the NC- we entered- why not - a trip to
New Mexico would be great.

During all these above rides I use ABC RIDE-RITE and ABC PROBI. I
pre-loaded starting on Thursday 1 oz mixed with 30 cc PB. Full dose
-2oz- on travel day, then 1 oz at camp in the pm and  1 oz 3 x per day
on Fri. He drank well but not as much as I would like. Maintained A to B
dyhd and gut score at all rides. 
I also was using carbo supplementation at all 4 rides and took blood GL
reading. I have some great data. Will present that later-- I was
concerned with going faster at Million Pines, so I watched him very
close- upped the carb doses to 2 oz at VC 1 , 3 OZ at VC 2  and NONE at
VC3.  He was going strong with GL levels up where they belong, so I
opted not use any on the last loop. His GL at the end was 88 - very
good. The loops here were 10 miles and 15 miles. Short- loops - he drank
well on all  loops- even loop 1. I gave him 1/2 dose LyteNow half way
through each loop.

BILTMORE
From all the successful performance- I felt he was ready to do good at
Biltmore. I arrived early on Thursday - started the electrolytes
program, small amounts a few times- (4-times).  Took a short ride. Fri
same program - electrolyte and feeding - small amounts many times -. He
was alone this time, did not really eat well, and picked at the hay-
slow to take up his normal grain mix -- same as his home diet. Although
it was my new mix of FARR-L, oats, Vitality. NOT really too much
difference from what I have been using all year. We used FARR-L at
Million Pines.. He drank OK - but not great. Did eat LOTS of grass, and
drank form the water trough at camp-he seemed very relaxed and in good
order. Nothing indicated a problem. Vetted in with all A,  as expected.
Last feeding was Fri night a larger amount then he had all day- about
the normal amount he gets at home. He finished it all. I got up and feed
at 5am- he did eat but a small amount, had drank limited water over
night and appeared he did not take up much  hay. We walked around and
ate LOTS of grass. I got ready and 1/2 hr before we left - gave a std
lyte  dose -  2 oz with 30 cc probi, NO CARBS.  My Carbometer was dead,
so I was in a bind, I do not give this substrate fuel without knowing
the baseline. I also NEVER use it before the FIRST VC. So I decided to
NOT  use any today UNTIL VC2.
My plan was to let him run - as in yes race-- I wanted to do about 8 to
10 mph. The trails are about what I have here, actually easier -- but
they kept coming at you -up-down all the way. 
Weather- Temp 85-plus and 80% Humidity- I think -  We did had cloud
cover. He went faster then I would have liked at first- but rather then
fight - we managed him. He did drink at some water, I gave 1/2 dose
LyteNow. HR was higher - yes of course - we were going faster, I felt
they were not too high. Mostly going up hill with too much speed, he
recovered to normal rates on the flats, what there were. His sweat was
heavy and did get a bit foamy- but by the end of the loop it was normal.

VC 1-Loop one done at 9:33- 2hr for 19.8 miles, Pulsed down to 60 in 2
minutes, while eating hay and drank (local water). Took a wiz at the PR
station - clear but dark yellow- not brown. Vet thought B on guts - his
normal- rest A. Back to trailer- ate very well normal VC stuff apples
carrots beetplup oats  hay. 40 min hold. Looked great. gave 2 oz lytes
30 cc pbi.

LOOP2 18.2 miles. Got into his rhythm, going with the same 3 riders we
were with on loop one. We worked well as a team, water stops - drank
well - ate some grass on the fly - felt great- All along HR were now at
normal for the level of effort- He pushed hard up hills - had to check
him more. He was sweating normal. I did NOT use my temp gauge- a
mistake?? don't know how HOT he got.. ( I left it home). Got off 1/4
mile from VC- he drank a good load of water from a trough, we walked in.
But he was antsy and pushy- acting up - the others had left - so I
assumed he wanted to catch them - 
VC2-Walked into the VC at 70. He dropped in about 5 minutes - but did
NOT eat or drink, Began to paw a few times.  NOT NORMAL Stomped his hind
foot a number of time, he kicks at flies.. but this was different. 
Dropped the saddle- and he was 62- went in at 58 - but he jumped up to
62, then a retake and he was 52.  -Began to paw in front, I asked for
one of the vets I knew well.. Told him this was not right. He vetted out
with B on guts and A- on dhyd. trotted sound and strong. CRI 52/52 Clear
to go. I said I thought there was something starting. Back to the pen,
he rolled - Took him for a walk - did not eat or drink. Gave about 60 cc
probi- sometimes with MILD problems this might help. Waited about 20
minutes too him back.

There was a line at the med site. Told Ken M we had a problem. Pulled
and gave Banimine and 2 gal fluid and electrolytes by tube.
He showed no major signs of problems - guts were now quite. HR 48, no
heart issues, no muscle spasms, no thumps.
Took him back to pen. Did not eat of drink- Took a wiz- it was very
slight brown or dark yellow. Walked around some- would not eat or drink
Went back in 3 hr - acting up again, another shot and  more water,
waited an hour- not getting worse nor better- Ken and Todd did not think
he was in dire problems- not showing the symptoms of many of the others-
but I asked Ken for the full aggressive treatment.   Better safe then
let a real problem get started.
Rectal showed empty colon , and no other problem.  Took blood sample. Dr
Mike Foss had his blood  machine on site- was really great. Will address
all that later
We flushed until he peeded- about 15 liters. was very clear, Gave Ca-
that was something to see, caused all the muscles to go into quiver
spasms, which was good, this caused the guts to start working also- the
desired results.  He ate in about 2 hrs. Kept going with fluid for a
total of 30 liters. A total time of about 4 hrs. Took him off  the IV
and he ate what ever was there. Hay- wet feed- and really wanted grass,
but looked for ALFALFA hay. (Ca)
By 9:pm he was like normal- Hr 38 showed no problems. I dosed with oral
electrolytes at 11PM and called it a night.
In the AM Ken and Todd called he clear to go home - BUT NOT until he
late after noon. They did not want ANY of the metabolic horses traveling
in the heat of the day- Some did, but I already did something wrong - no
need making things worse. Left about 4pm - stopped 2 times - all was
well- he was eating hay and drinking well.
Today - he is normal- cant tell there was a problem.

Next paper will address the issues.

I will make one 'ego' statement- in 20 years of ECTRA AERC and over 7000
miles and 6 horses, I have never placed a horse in serious metabolic
distress. This was my first time. I look at this as a major failure on
my part. I accept lameness as  - 'things happen' - like a rock etc, but
most metabolic problems can be traced to rider error. NOW don't go off
on me here- THIS IS MY OPINION. I have always opted on a conservative
ride, opt to back off rather then cause a problem. I also believe I can
read a horse very well. I am now at the point where I desire to reach
out for new plateaus. When you ( I ) take a risk and go out side the
safe zone, something can go wrong. It all worked well at Million Pines,
something fell through the crack here. I will offer some thoughts on
what happened in the next posting

By direction of the SE Director and Mother Sup- Susan K- "you have to
write this up on RC- you cant just talk about your success without
admitting to failures."  or something like that--

We do plan on going to Liberty RUN- and we will NOT RUN- this time--

Roger Rittenhouse #8263 / OMNI a good endurance horse in the making