Ridecamp: Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures

Heidi is absolutely correct. I've seen many vets do a full exam on a 
horse, including the CRI in about a minute from the time the horse steps 
in till they are finished. Not only does looking at all the parameters 
give the vet a good idea what is going on, it gives the rider a good 
idea also and they are much better informed to make smart decisions..

Truman

Heidi Smith wrote:

> Rob, I agree with what you've said here.  However, the reality is that there
> are riders out there who don't, and as a ride vet, one has a responsibility
> to do the "substantive exam" called for in the rules.  One can do that
> "substantive exam" quite rapidly if one is an experienced ride vet--it need
> not be a half-hour pre-purchase exam.  That said, there is still no way a
> ride vet can "see" what he/she needs to "see" about a horse without ever
> touching or listening.  If the horse has good gut sounds, one can often
> start at the head with a cap refill (noting gum color at the same time), run
> one's hand right on down to check skin turgor, assess muscle tone as one
> runs one's hand on over the shoulder, pick up one's stethoscope with the
> other hand, listen to 3 or 4 heartbeats for quality and rythm, slide back to
> the tummy, listen with one hand resting on the loin or rump still noting
> muscle tone, and observe the legs for swellings, interference marks, etc.
> while listening to guts--and picking up a thumper while one is back there.
> One also gets a general impression of skin temp, sweating or not, etc. this
> way.  That is fairly substantive, and is very fast if the gut sounds are
> good.  But one misses a great deal of info if one never touches a hand or a
> stethoscope to the horse, no matter how "experienced" one is....
>
> Heidi
>
>
> =




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