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    Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures - Truman Prevatt


    In this region we pretty much do go to the check after the pulse down. Some vets want to see how well they recover, i.e. how long it takes the to pulse down (and most do look at the times) and what they look like during the recovery phase. But if there is any question or the feeling that they are infact running on guts, they hold their card and have them return before going out.

    I do think the CRI at some point right before they go back out is a good idea - at least at about midway on a 50 and maybe a couple times on a 100.

    Truman

    Heidi Smith wrote:
    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..

    I'll add, too, Truman, that in well over 250 rides vetted, I've only seen
    one horse crash that truly gave us what I would consider no signs of pending
    problems at the prior vet check, despite what another poster suggested.
    (She did not, however, have all A's.) That particular mare did not "feel"
    right to her rider, who opted to pull anyway, and the mare crashed three
    hours later. Yes, I've seen a few with all A's up to a vet check BEFORE
    they started showing signs of problems--but the signs DO show up in almost
    all cases long enough before a horse crashes that in most cases one can
    prevent a crash by pulling. One of the BIG problems I see prevalent at AERC
    rides is vetting horses through immediately after they pulse down, rather
    than waiting until toward the ends of their holds--I've picked up MANY
    horses not fit to go on that "let their hair down" so to speak during the
    hold, but were running on guts and adr enaline and looked perfectly fine
    right after they pulsed down. At far too many rides, these horses are
    already vetted through and end up back out on the trail, only to crash at
    the NEXT check--but if they are vetted after their holds, they are caught in
    time to either pull or to slow down substantially BEFORE the damage occurs.
    I was intrigued at Fort Howes that even though we were made to vet through
    right after our pulse-down, we were nonetheless required to represent for a
    mini-exam just prior to leaving. Perhaps vets are beginning to figure this
    out?? I thought that the duplication of effort was a bit wasteful (having
    to essentially vet through twice) but did think it was a step in the right
    direction. Hopefully eventually more vets will learn to direct managers to
    simply send the horses on to their camps or crews after pulse-down (with the
    proviso that we are glad to look at any horse the rider wishes to have seen
    at any time d uring the check, but that the actual vetting-out won't be done
    until the end), and simply have the horses back to present 5-10 minutes
    before they are due to leave. This really catches a lot more problems in
    the early stages--and after all, the goal here is to PREVENT crashes, not to
    just be there when they happen.

    Heidi




    Replies
    RE: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Bob Morris
    Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Rob
    Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Heidi Smith
    Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Truman Prevatt
    Re: [RC] RC: Vetting procedures, Heidi Smith