Ridecamp: Re: [RC] pre ride VC issues and a few others

I can't see that vetting has changed much in the last 10 years. The vet must
have some flexibility in determining if something is a gait irregularity
or a brewing problem that could become serious. I do not feel I have been
pulled when I should not have - in fact it has always been a joint decision
or I had decided to pull and wanted to vet to see if they could find the
cause of the problem. 

Even when I was riding my mare (a walking horse - horror of all horrors they
all look lame) I was only pulled once for lameness. That was when she fell
into a wash out area. The vet saw something but didn't know what. She called
in another vet and they mulled it over. I didn't see it but, I decided that
if they were concerned, I had no business going on. I pulled and the vet
suggested I get an ultrasound when I got home which I did. Small tear in
the deep flexor. Since I pulled she recovered in a few months and went on
to do about 1000 more miles a bunch of top 10's, a BC ( vets will even give
a walking horse a fair shot at BC) and 5 more 100's. 

Had I gone back out who knows what could have happened. All I know is that
it would not have been good.

Truman

Laura Hayes wrote:

>>>ROGER WROTE:   Since I was NOT at the OD  - let me ask this one - DID ALL the horses
get the CRI done at ALL VC-  AND - at the FINISH - was it used as a
finishing criteria? COULD you have been pulled for a 'failed' CRI at
the finish??   Need to define that one?<<<

 

I can answer this.  Yes, all horses were subject to CRI at all checks.  The only horses who were CRI'd at the finish did so in conjuction with BC judging.  Finish criteria was a straight trot.  So no, you could not have been pulled at the finish for a 'failed' CRI.

 

I  was at the pre ride vet meeting and it was stated very plainly by the head vet that CRI is only one criteria and not to be a stand alone issue.

 

BTW, I have finished over 60 AERC races, over 10 100s, most all of it in the top ten, and in several regions.  I do not feel I have ever been pulled unjustly, in fact, if I was pulled, I knew it was coming.  OK, Howard, I agree, that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but that is also a whale of experience.

 

Laura Hayes AERC #2741