Ridecamp: RE: [EnduranceVets] [RC] vet check parameters - Sara Ralston

fowarded (w/o permission <;->  )

johnt
================================
>Are there any Vets out there that can speak to the parameters that show
best
>as to the condition of a horse capable of continuing or not metabolically?
>
>Also are there any parameters or measuring devices or technology we don't
>use that could be helpful in looking at our horses, being totally
idealistic
>and not realistic considering expense of course.
>
>I believe in human 100 mile races the runners are weighed and pulled if
they
>lose a certain percentage of body weight.  Any university research on
>equines going on regarding this that anyone knows of?
>
-----Original Message-----
From: vets-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vets-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Sarah Ralston
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 11:52 AM
To: vets@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [EnduranceVets] [RC] vet check parameters

It's easy enough to weigh horses at events now-Many
of us "university types" have our portable scales and have
used them at events. In my experience competitors actually
like weighing their horses during competitions as long as the
scales are safe and reasonably accurate, so getting more info
is not really a problem.

However there are many variables that contribute to the
observed weight changes: sweat losses, water and feed intakes,
fecal losses (ie:stress induced diarrhea) and starting weights
versus "normal weights" since just the transport and pre-ride
handling can affect gut fill and hydration status, etc,etc....

Developing guidelines that take all these things into account
might be difficult....

Sarah Ralston, VMD, PhD, dACVN
Associate Professor



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the upcoming By-Laws 
 Election!!!! (it takes 2/3rds to tango!!)

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=