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    Re: [RC] practical suggestions re leaving early - Jeannie Gillen


    Heidi,
    
    I really appreciate your practical/common sense advice and reply to Ridecamp
    issues.  Thanks for taking the time...  an Appreciative Rider
    
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Heidi Smith <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
    To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
    Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2002 6:43 AM
    Subject: Re: [RC] practical suggestions re leaving early
    
    
    >
    > >Unless otherwise recommended by the treatment vet (ie, referring to a
    > clinic), or barring unusual circumstances (home is VERY close by), then
    IMO
    > I wouldn't suggest loading up for home if any of the following criteria
    are
    > present:
    >
    > This was a good list of criteria for not hauling a horse within the few
    > hours post-ride.  However, I'd add one more consideration to the "unusual
    > circumstances" category--and that is the predicted ambient conditions
    coming
    > in in camp that night.  With our early spring and late fall rides here in
    > the Far North, if there is likely to be a serious temperature drop
    > (especially if accompanied by winds or other "chill factor" sorts of
    > things), GET THAT STRESSED HORSE OUTTA THERE!  If home is a long way, ask
    > around for a good stopping place (fellow endurance rider an hour away,
    > fairgrounds, whatever) where there is shelter for your horse.  But if he
    has
    > the sorts of problems Susan named off, don't subject him to a central
    Oregon
    > high desert winter night tied to the trailer or stuck in a tiny makeshift
    > corral.  I'm likely overly sensitive to this, having vetted rides under
    such
    > circumstances fairly routinely for 20 years, but it can be as much of a
    > special challenge as dealing with heat and humidity in other parts of the
    > country in the summer.
    >
    > The bottom line is always to weigh potential risks against potential
    > benefits.  And if at all in doubt, corner one of the ride veterinarians
    and
    > ask advice.  This is a subject that a great many riders have come to me to
    > discuss over the years, prior to loading up and heading out, to make sure
    > they are making a safe and sane choice.  (The very fact that they come and
    > ask the ride vets if it is ok to trailer home now is indicative of the
    fact
    > that the vast majority of riders are NOT uncaring about the condition of
    > their horses, and indeed DO want to do right by them.)  The majority of
    > horses come into camp and hoover down everything in sight that is edible,
    > drain their water buckets, and temporarily sated, have a snooze in the
    sun.
    > Most are, indeed, "fit to continue"--so after a few hours of what amounts
    to
    > a king-sized hold after the final vet check in which they can do the above
    > to their heart's content, they simply go out on the "next loop" which is
    the
    > ride home.  I think of it as if the horse is not "fit to continue" then he
    > shouldn't be going out on that "next loop" in the trailer, either, until
    > he's had more time to repair himself, and possibly some veterinary
    > attention.
    >
    > And to Susan's list of no-no's, I'd add the horse that is a chronic poor
    > trailerer (if there is such a word).  Most of my own horses will sleep in
    > the trailer, eat in the trailer, drink in the trailer, pee in the trailer,
    > etc., but I worry about the ones that get wall-eyed and stand there rigid
    > and fretting.  And of course, that may well be a training issue to deal
    with
    > at home--most likely by the driver learning how to tow a trailer so that
    the
    > horse doesn't have to anticipate getting slapped up alongside the
    partition
    > on every turn or stop.
    >
    > Heidi
    >
    >
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    Replies
    [RC] practical suggestions re leaving early, Ridecamp Guest
    Re: [RC] practical suggestions re leaving early, Heidi Smith