Re: [RC] Adios, 'lytes and rump rugs - Sisu West Ranch
Wendy and I were crewing at Pit stops 2,3,6,7 for
the central team. We did the usual things of offering water, food, 'lytes,
and help to all of the central riders and Greece, Romania, Japan and
Germany. We also got a chance to watch all the horses and how they
reacted.
We noticed that most of the riders seemed to be
offering more 'lytes than we ourselves use. Most of the riders were using
either premixed paste types, or just with water. During lulls in activity
we discussed the following observations:
1. A couple of horses had ulcers in the mouth from
'lytes.
2. Most of the horses tended to try to avoid the
'lytes.
3. The premade pasty 'lytes were often spit
out.
4. Crusts of salts had to be removed from the lips
of some horses.
5. One rider asked me to administer the 'lytes just
before she left, because the horse won't eat or drink after.
6. One rider used 'lytes mixed with apple
sause. She also feed a couple of doses of just apple sause after the
'lytes. This horse (who finished in great shape) actively sought the
'lytes and continued to eat and drink after their administration.
Our conclusion was that our practice of
administering moderate amounts, in apple sause right after the horse has drank
at a stop is a good practice.
One horse management practice difference that we
noticed was the use of rump rugs and blankets. Competitors from warm
climates appeared to be much less likely to use blankets at night, and rump rugs
and blankets at stops. Competing in MN and WI we had learned to be liberal
with the application of insulation to horses especially at the first few cold
rides in the fall. I have no scientific data, but feel that in addition to
the obvious association with cramps, chilling predisposes to colic.
Bettina Koehn riding for Germany completed on DJB Choctaw Traveling Man, even
though he was from the south and a very heavy horse. While she did not
have a rump rug at the "P" stop, she was very careful not to let him chill, and
I assume blanketed him at the cool vet stops, I do know that he was
blanketed after the race. By the way it was quite chilly at P7 when he
went through at 1:00 AM Sunday.
Ed and Wendy Hauser Sisu West 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875