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Re: [RC] Hold times - Heidi Smithan hour isn't enough at the halfway point, at least. Typical >pattern => that I> like (barring unusual weather circumstances or unusual obstacles at => checks)is 15 at the first check, 45 at the halfway, and then anywhere from 15=> to 30> at the 3rd check, depending on circumstances. I wonder is weather would come to play in our attitudes here. In the Southeast the vets generally want us to pull tack at every vet check. The horse just cools off better. If you've got a 15 min. check where you've got to re-tack that horse isn't going to get much "down time" with people letting him relax. Yes, weather is definitely an issue here. On many of our rides, the first check is cold enough (even in summer) that you DON'T want the tack off! But it can be hot and miserable later in the day, so you DO want tack off. That's exactly the sort of thing that has to be taken into account by the veterinary staff at each and every ride, and is why there should only be guidelines about this issue, not rules. Furthermore, guidelines should include WHY you would want tack on or off with different weather situations, so that the given circumstances at each individual ride are taken into account. The extreme variations that we can have in weather in our area are a particular challenge--especially in the fall, we can start off with an inch of ice on the water buckets in the mornings, with riders bundled up in polarfleece and layers and horses wearing rump rugs, and be 90 degrees in the early afternoon. So one plans early morning vet checks with an entirely different agenda than checks 3/4 of the way through the ride. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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