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Re: [RC] Preventing Treated Horses at Rides - Ideas Please - SullivanWonderful stuff, keep the info and ideas coming. Wish we had more mentors and experienced riders offering suggestions as to what works for them. This is a good thing for ridecamp and greatly appreciated! Karen ----- Original Message ----- From: <Stagg_Newman@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <staggandcheryl@xxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 7:38 PM Subject: [RC] Preventing Treated Horses at Rides - Ideas Please Folks, Would like to start on a thread on ideas of how to prevent treated horses at rides. IMO greatly reducing the number of treated horses is one of the most important actions we can take to improve the sport. Moreover with increased scrutiny from animal welfare activists and others, it is one of the most important. And it is the right thing to do for the horse. I would suggest separating the discussion into three areas: 1. What are the reasons we have to treat horses and the early warning signs? As Dr. Jeannie Waldron frequently says, one of the problems is "we just don't know enough". So what do we need to do to learn more? 2. What are actions that we as riders and crew can take to prevent our horses from needing treatment? 3. What if any changes should ride management or ride vets consider to prevent horses from needing treatment? I will offer to compile the ideas received and then distribute to ridecamp. And if warranted we can the get the ideas more widely disseminated as I firmly believe rider education may be our most important tool. In order to get the discussion going, here is my first idea. WE AS RIDERS SHOULD TAKE THE HORSE'S PULSE JUST BEFORE LEAVING A HOLD AND ACT ACCORDINGLY. Rationale: I believe one of the best indicators of how a horse is doing is the pulse at the end of the hold period. My belief is the pulse of the horse that is doing well should continue to decline during the hold period. If at the end of the hold period the pulse is down into the 40s then the horse is not likely to have metabolic problems on the next loop. On the other hand if the horse's pulse is hanging at 60 or has gone even higher than at the vetting in, that is a red flag the something is wrong. A few rides have tried exit checks at some holds and they do seem to find some horses that are starting to have problems. But we as riders do not need to rely on ride management. We can check the horse's pulse and then if we are concerned check with the veterinarians, slow our pace, and/or withdraw. In addition to posting on Ridecamp, please cc me directly at staggandcheryl@xxxxxxxxxxx since work sometimes interferes with my keeping up to date on Ridecamp. Have to pay for the horse somehow :>) Stagg Newman +---------------------------------------------------------+ This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message. Thank you for your cooperation. +---------------------------------------------------------+ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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