Re: Pregnant mares

[CMKSAGEHIL <CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com>]

In a message dated 98-04-19 20:42:48 EDT, suendavid@worldnet.att.net writes:

<< AERC's rules about
 pregnant (at least *obviously* pregnant) mares in competition are good
 ones  >>

To the best of my knowledge, AERC has no rules prohibiting pregnant mares.
Have had several compete through about their 8th month (and one or two further
along) with absolutely no ill effects.  Have been on both sides of the aisle
here, having both campaigned them personally and having been ride vet where
others have competed.  Any rule prohibiting pregnant mares would be in
violation of AERC's rule that all rides must be open to all equines over 60
months (48 months for LD's).

Must admit that if I might have a little discussion with a potential rider if
one was presented at the vet-in actually bagging up, but then that's the
common sense part.

While I agree about being pro-active when it comes to protecting the image of
the sport, I also feel strongly that we should not perpetuate the Victorian
attitude that pregnancy is an illness.  I would not advise late pregnancy as
being the time to START endurance riding, but for a mare that has been
competing all along, it is often almost worse to stop than to go ahead and
compete at some level during pregnancy.  The pregnant mares that I have
personally ridden (have said this before, but one ran 18 rides, 17 top tens,
was PNER Mileage Champion, PNER Reserve Points Champion, and AERC Top 25) have
had uneventful deliveries, healthy foals, and have bred back easily--something
that I cannot always say for the number of fat, sedentary broodmares that I
deal with every day in my veterinary practice!

Heidi