Ridecamp: [RC] Vet checks

>>>Oh good, then I can do lots of complaining.  My two horses have 11,150
miles and have never been treated.

Compare that situation to the horse/rider team who placed 4th  at the WEG
(by 7 seconds) and 2nd in the BC scoring. The horse was on his FIRST 100.
 Also, the winner had never competed his horse before. How can we expect
these people to read their horses the way you are able to read yours
after all those miles...not to mention the difference in goals and the
danger of those goals. They were there to WIN. I'm guessing your primary
goal was miles and a good placement was secondary (though not totally
unimportant) right?  

>That 100 mile ride had 4 vet checks on it.  The first one at > around >
25 miles, was a full vet check with a 20 or 30 minute hold, then a > trot
by  at mile 43.  Our first long hold came at 50 miles (yes, really).  We
> had an > hour then, went out for another 25 mile loop, had another hour
hold > at 75 
> miles, and then did the last 25 miles (no vet checks during either > of
the 25 mile loops).

I have no doubt at all that you could do 100's with no vet checks at all.
 What is the purpose of a vet check?  Is it a place for a pro to be met
by their "stuff" or something more?  How far does it take for a horse to
get in *serious* trouble...not just "pulled" trouble, but "dead" trouble?
 Is it AERC's goal to promise those horses ample vet checks to protect
them from either ignorant, or overly aggressive riders...or just to be
around in case we decide we need some help?  At the WEG level, is the
purpose of the vet check any different?  *Should* AERC have the same
level of supervision as they feel FEI should provide?  These are things I
think we need to think through *before* we approach FEI.  We need to have
our reasoning and are argument clear, convincing ourselves first before
we attempt to convince them.

Angie

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