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    Re: [RC] ] Newbies - Truman Prevatt


    In the SE we have meetings after the ride meeting for new riders (or anyone else that wants to attend).  We go over how you start the ride, what you do when you come in. How the P&R box works, what a gate into a hold is and all the other logistical issues. We also go over management issues including sponging, pacing, to pull or not pull tack (if not pulling is an option ) and electrolytes. This meeting is typically run by a SERA board member and the head vet.

    All questions are answered and hopefully the new riders have some idea of what to expect. The first thing that dawns on them is they need more electrolytes. I really think this helps and I also think it helpful for the new riders to be able to talk with the vets in this type of forum.

    Truman

    kathy.mayeda@xxxxxxx wrote:
    I think that it's good to tell things like don't dunk 
    the sponge in a water trough, vet check procedure and
    electrolytes for first time riders. One of the gals
    didn't have a clue about electrolyting until I showed
    her the syringe and how to mix it up. This is the day
    before the ride after we arrived in ridecamp. She's
    going to do Tevis this year (no - I didn't give
    her "advice" on Tevis.... she's doing this one on her
    own!)

    Another one of my friends who was a ride and tie person
    was soundly reprimanded by the vet for riding too fast
    on her 1st LD and not electrolyting - resulting in a
    thumping horse. She just didn't know; and she could
    have been saved some embarassment about the poor horse's
    condition if someone had clued her in. She did learn
    though and is a very conscientious rider now.

    The last newbie I took to the ride spent a lot of time
    talking about her excitement and anxie ty and wanting to
    know all the details about going to a ride. It helped
    that I spent the time talking to her. A couple of us
    (the other person has over 8,000 miles and rides FEI) at
    the barn convinced her to skip LD and go to straight to
    a 50 with this particular horse. We wouldn't say that
    to just anyone. Her first endurance ride was a
    difficult 50 with a horse finishing in good condition
    and a big smile on her face. The horse was a little
    tired, which was the rider's goal was to have her
    hyperactive horse a little tired! I think that this
    rider/horse combination is real talented and in great
    condition. She just needs someone to listen to her
    anxieties about doing the right thing. At this point we
    just spend time comparing notes about thisa and a thata,
    two rides later for her and she's definitely more of a
    peer. Just another endurance junkie who will probably
    surpass me as an endurance rider!

    I still have a lot to learn, but each experience builds
    knowledge. I probably don't electrolyte my horse
    enough, even though he gets a full dose of electrolytes
    every vet check. He thumped at the 3rd VC at Wine
    Country and if I didn't already have experience with
    this we might have slipped thru the VC. I had to tell
    the vet to look for it and it took her a long time with
    a stethoscope to confirm it. She commented that I really
    knew my horse well to pick up on this.

    I received some very good encouragement and advice from
    a friend (you know who you are MM) about thumps - oh
    gawd - a year and a half ago. Unfortunately, I
    backburnered the advice which resulted in this last pull
    and has Beau in a non-alfalfa paddock after being told
    by two separate ride vets "get him off of alfalfa".
    Which is actually easier for me to dose him with his
    Gastrogard.

    I still want to do 100's with this thumping, gastric
    ulcerated horse with a tweeky stifle, high-low heel
    syndrome that wants to run until he's drops. I'll be a
    newbie all over again doing my 1st 100, hopefully
    Swanton, Barbara Mc.! We are doing some tough training
    rides while he's still on the Gastrogard so once he's
    done with the treatment he should be good to go. (Well,
    maybe I should think about the 75....)

    K.
    We never know how our advice, encouragement or discouragement may affect
    someone. 3 newbies from my spring clinic are going to their first "real"
    ride this weekend and I am so nervous wondering if what I said or did will
    help them or hinder them. :)
    Maggie


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    Re: [RC] ] Newbies, kathy . mayeda