Re: Horse death/leaving

[Samm C Bartee <bartesc@mail.auburn.edu>]

> >I am against leaving before a ride too. 
> 
> Aren't we all?  :-)  (proof read that line Samm <VBG>
WHOOPS!!  me blushing..>I guess NOone would make money if we all left
before the ride!!  hehe


> Samm, I apologize for any details I got wrong.  I know this is a very
> sensitive issue and I tried to point out when I was just "repeating hear
> say".  
No biggie, the end result was the same!!  We still had a horse die.  It
was tragic and you have brought up some very valid points, especially for
us here in the SE.  

> I had yet to mention this incident to anyone who had heard a word about
> it, and felt it had sort of been swept under the rug.  It's embarassing
> and tragic, but I guess I just wanted to make sure we were going to learn
> from our mistakes as a group, not just one rider at a time.
Believe me, it hasn't been swept under the rug...I have heard about this
repeatedly from a lot of people. Just part of my job I guess:-))


> When you're in a big sleeping camp, it's hard to know who's local and
> might could help.  All I knew was that you were from Auburn, AL and we
> were a long way from there.  10 miles or 50 wouldn't have made a
> difference since we didn't know where they were.  This is not condemning
> management or placing blame.  I've managed many rides, and I've never had
> a contingency plan for an event like this.  Now I plan to.
> 
> Same thing on the camp manager 100 yds from camp.  Who knew?
yes, I know. I wasn't pointing fingers either. I think the idea...don't
remember who's it was...about printing the RM's name, number, the local
vets name,number, that someone in camp and who it is, etc, and all other
pertinants and putting it all up so everyone can see...plus BRING
everyone's attention to it at the meetings...both before, and after the
ride, so it is obvious.  that is a great idea and one that I think I will
write about in the next newsletter.....Tina, oh Tina...are you reading
dear?  


> >was
> >in camp, with a cell phone and the ride managers number,
> 
> Same thing.  I had no idea you were part of management.  It was very
> late.  We looked for someone that we thought might have the most medical
> knowlege.  I don't even know if I knew you were still there. 
I know.  Again, I wasn't trying to sound bad, but I guess I have heard
about this so much, and believe me, we ahve not tried to sweep it under
any rug, but neither have we shouted it from rooftops.  it is embarassing
and very upsetting for the owner.  
**I am always still there.  Just listen for the sound of dogs
snoring...with a Pit and a Boxer, you are sure to hear them!!


> .  It's not the fault of anyone...rider, ride
> >manager, or vets leaving early. 
> 
> Fault isn't the word I'm looking for.  I'm trying to figure out how to
> arrange my vets duties in such a way that I'll still have one on the
> payroll Sat. night as a service to the horses and riders.
This is a great idea if you can arrange it with the vets.  Some RM's
provide vets with hotel rooms and such. Again...this is defeating the
purpose.  At a ride about a year and a half ago, we had some horses break
out of their pens and go on a jaunt.  One horse was injured on his metal
corral and needed vet attention.  Noone knew where the vets were staying
and there wasn't a vet in attendance.  This was the morning before the
ride and it was about 3:30 in the morning, just before the mornings
rituals started.  it was really scarey trying to get someone who might
know where the vets were housed.   This is just another example...


> Just a comment on the kind of response time we should expect when calling
> the local vet.  I think it was about 9:00 A.M.  about 6hrs late.
Part of the problem was just NOT KNOWING....It was a while before anyone
showed up. By the time I was awakened, everything was done.  The RM had
been roused, the vet had been called and the horse had died.  Since I had
no horses there, I was camped a little away from the rest and I sleep much
harder when I don't have to worry about my horses.  If I could go back and
change things.........


> >not, but this has struck a nerve with me.  I guess because I was smack 
> >in
> >the middle of this, and it has been brought up so many times by 
> >several
> >people,
> 
> Like I said, I had never heard it addressed.
You weren't in the right place at the right time:-)...

> >According to all the rule books, the vet only has to be there 1 hour 
> >past
> >the last horse finishing.
> 
> That's the rules.  I think I want to provide a little more at my ride,
> and have a contingency plan for what I'll do at other rides.  Like I
> said.  I've never thought of asking for an emergency number for the night
> after.  Maybe managers should provide one in their rider packets.  When I
> plan a ride, I always find out the nearest rescue squad's number and
> inform them of our event and where it will be.  This is just one more
> thing I'll consider.   
Putting it in the riders packet it ok, but they need to be made aware that
it is there.  Heck, half the time, I have had to point out that their
rider card is in the rider packet.  after they register and take rider
packet and are gone for a couple of hours...go figure!   Put it's all good
ideas...and as I said, one that I will work on for next month.  promise!


> Haven't seen a ride with 20-40 riders lately, but the key word is "on
> call".  I think if a local vet was informed that the ride was being held,
> and that his number would be posted as an emergency number...it wouldn't
> be such a "cold call".   
ONe in Fl last Nov had less than 20.  There have been three this year with
less than 60, and that included three distances at all three...and one was
a two day.  
but you are right.  the local vet needs to be on call.  Course in some
instances...Like Long Leaf, there is no such thing as a local vet.  They
are shipped in.  It's a long ways to the nearest vet.  and there is not a
local person for there. The RM is from another city altogether, and they
dont' really know the locals.  

I hope to get something going on this.  Truman and I are now working on
helping to better the treatment vets ideas of what needs to be brought
along for treatment.   
Any vets out there that would like to comment on what you bring with you
as treatment vet, please feel free.  You may e-mail me privately if you
like.  We are trying to put together a packet of info for those Treatment
vets that have not much knowledge of endurance and the special needs that
may arise.  


thanks...

samm