simulating an ECTRA vet check

["Dave & Abby Bloxsom" <cyclone@snet.net>]

For an ECTRA check, you should have 4 people.  Two will hold notebooks with
flapping papers, one will put hands on every part of the horse above the
elbow & stifle, one will touch each leg all the way down.  The Notebook
people will stand one on each side (as will the Touchers) and then they'll
switch sides & repeat the touching on the other side.  One of the touchers
will put fingers on the gums, pinch the skin on the neck, and maybe look
under the lower eyelid.  The Top of Body Toucher will need to look at the
horse's whole head as well, on both sides and on the poll.

Then you need to jog the horse *on a slack lead* away from the group about
50-60 feet, jog a *round* circle (maybe 20-30 feet radius) in each
direction, and jog back toward the group.  The horse should stop & start
when you do, without you needing to pull on the lead (much).  To make it
smooth, you should halt and turn between each segment of the jog-out.

The P&R check is a piece of cake compared to that, just one person and a
stethoscope, but if your horse can stand *motionless* for 2 minutes you'll
be doin' great!

If you can master all of that, your horse will be better behaved than 50% of
the competitors out there ...

Good luck!
-Abby Bloxsom