Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Mike,

This is a tough question. For some reason the Florida DOF decided that 
Goethe needed a bunch of lime rock a few years back - unfortunately they 
decided the horse trails would be a good place to dump it. Put a horse 
on different footing - sand to rock, turf to mud, etc and it can cause 
problems.

You are the guy that sees the horse every day. You are the guy that 
knows the horse. You are the guy to make the decision. While I am sure 
others will tell you from afar what to do - you are the only person that 
can make that decision.

If you think he is okay and his home turf is sand - start the Sand 
Hills. BUT and that's a big BUT when you check him in tell the vets just 
what you told us. If they are fine with him - start. However, watch him 
through the ride and if it comes back - get off and walk him back to 
camp and pull him.

One ride is not worth a horse's career. My experience in both human and 
equine athletics - minor injuries happen often early on. In some 
respects you have to "play through them." or you will never get past 
them. It is, however, a delicate balance. He has a long career ahead of 
him. This is most likely a pimple in the progress to that career. 
However, it is up to you to make sure it is no more than a pimple.

Good luck,
Truman

Mike Lewis wrote:
> My mare completed the FITS 25 miler last weekend, but had some swelling on
> her right/front lower leg after the ride.  I noted that she felt slightly
> "off" about halfway through the ride, and suspect it was due to pounding
> on a harder surface than we're accustomed to (we only have sand in my area
> to train on.)
>
> The Sand Hill Stampede is THIS weekend.  I have given my mare light
> groundwork nightly since Monday night, and she seems happy and pain free. 
> The swelling on the leg was gone the day after the race despite an 8 hour
> trailer ride home.
>
> My judgment says that she would benefit from the conditioning she would
> gain if I went ahead and gently rode her in the Sand Hills 30 mile ride at
> a noncompetitive pace.  Very interested in other folks' thoughts, though,
> as I don't want to give her too much work too quickly and end up with an
> injured horse and a lost endurance season.  She has had about 100 miles of
> racing and conditioning in the past month after coming off of a 2 year
> "break."
>
> Thanks for any thoughts...
>
>
> Mike
>
>   


--

“Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to 
authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us?” 
Justice William O. Douglas


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