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Well, soundness is the most obvious concern at the
trot-out. And that's why I told Roger that I think it is silly to make a
rule about hazing. Do the people who have to haze their horses because
they haven't trained them look like unprepared idiots? Yes, they
do. Does that have any bearing on whether or not the horse is
sound? No, it doesn't. So far, AERC does not have rules against
lack of education of the horse, as long as it does not cause the horse to
endanger anyone else. I would say, though, that I look for a LOT more than
just soundness at the trot-out. I also look for indications that the horse
is tired. If the horse is dull and unresponsive to the hazing, that's a
bad sign. If he is fidgeting and going every which way instead of forward,
that's sure as heck different from being tired. The vast majority of
vets CAN tell the difference. If the horse is tripping and stumbling over
his feet because he is disoriented, ride vets may well add that up with other
parameters and pull or hold him anyway, even if he is sound. So I'd have
to say, Frank, that the trot-out has multiple purposes, only the most obvious of
which is determining soundness.
Heidi
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 9:56
PM
Subject: [RC] PURPOSE OF THE 'TROT
OUT'
What exactly is the purpose of
the "trot out"?
Heidi, et.al., can tell me I'm
sure.
Is it to determine whether the horse is
sound?
If so, then I don't see whether hazing is
or is not even relevant.
I know some would tell me that
some vets use the trot out to check on the horse's attitude, alertness,
willingness, etc.
But, isn't soundness the primary
concern during a trot out?
Haze 'em , if you got to,
don't haze 'em if you don't want to, but to determine whether they are sound,
grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 or grade 4, get 'em to TROT.
(I know I'm probably wrong, but I KNOW this post is
"endurance-related"...:^).
Frank.
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