Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

At 03:00 PM 2/15/03 -0700, Bob Morris wrote:
> Very good points Terre. But you are starting to sound like me when it 
> comes to data. It would be only as good as what is reported. Considering 
> the complaints from the past, about
> it being to much of a burden on the Vets and ride Managers, how would you 
> propose to obtain the data in a worthwhile way?

Well, that certainly has always been the snag!  I envision a 2-part form; 
the first part filled out by the vet at the ride and forwarded to AERC, the 
second part sent home with the rider.  The "vet" part would list clinical 
symptoms, treatment, and comments--shouldn't be too difficult; surely they 
writing down how much banamine, etc when they generate a bill, no?  The 
rider part would be completed at home and mailed in--more comprehensive 
listing things like history (horse/rider?), feeding protocol, trailering, 
what the rider experienced during the episode, etc.  If the 'committee'' 
received the 'vet' part, they would know to look for the 'rider' part.


> There is one other point to be made here. While I do deplore any horse 
> fatality there remains the fact we are working with very small numbers. 
> One must look at the return on investment in this case. Is it practical to 
> embrace a large scale effort for minimal returns? We are all aware that no
> matter the effort there will always be fatalities at endurance rides. Not 
> caused by any untoward practices but just because living bodies die eventually.
But note that my post is called "preventing TREATMENT", not death.  I 
believe the fatalities are just 'the tip of the iceberg', and that horses 
dodge the bullet far more often than not.  There will always be the odd 
death due to preexisting problems and fluke accidents.  But if we can 
accurately determine the causes (and INDICATIONS) of metabolic failures due 
to competition, we can prevent not only the deaths of some horses, but the 
suffering of many others.


> I believe a strong education effort would provide a greater return on 
> investment than any rule, data acquisition or other preventative method as 
> it would benefit all levels of rider. In addition it would be proactive 
> rather than reactive.

Actually--I consider this to be education! (as opposed to 
enforcement).  Education of the organization and vets as well as riders as 
to what causes lead to metabolic failure and how it can be predicted/prevented.


Consider this:
>From: Truman Prevatt <tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

>The probelm is horses get into trouble that are 48, horses get into 
trouble that 56/48 at the CRI. >Horses get into trouble that have "all A's" 
on their card. Horses can get into trouble despite the >best intentions of 
their ride riding under the best vet in the world.

How can the rider be "expected" to recognize that their horse is in trouble 
under these conditions?  I know that some of us do--we just know our horse 
isn't right--but that is not good enough!  A horse death or suffering 
shouldn't be the consequence of a rider not being psychic.

terre


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