ride vet shortage and vetting comments

[IRMurphy@aol.com]

One suggestion for increasing our supply of ride vets may be to offer some type of scholarship to veterinary students.  As part of the scholarship requirements they must work with ride vets during the rides.  There are probably some younger riders who are interested in vet school who already have a knowledge of endurance.

This past weekend we held a demonstration to a local 4H group about endurance.  As a part of the demonstration I went through over 60 simulated checks where I explained some of the categories, taught how to take heart rates, etc.  I have  new respect for the vets that work at our rides!  In this case these were all older, calm (average age about 18) horses that young kids were working with, not at all representative of our more exciteable horses.