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[RC] Back checking, why it's done - Lucie HessI have heard on several occasions from one of our vets here in the Central Region that vets check backs due to an event that happened many years ago, when folks were quite invested in being the high mileage rider. I won't name names as I'm not sure exactly who did this, but we are told that "back in the day", some riders would compete horses that had 'TERRIBLE' open, raw and nasty saddle sores. These riders were able to compete with these horses with these sores, because they checked their horses in saddled, checked them saddled during the ride and of course checked them saddled at the finish. Some folks became outraged at the condition of the horse, plus the vets themselves felt pretty miserable over the condition of the horse if they saw it unsaddled after the ride. From that some of the Vets decided to ask riders to have their horses vetted "naked", no saddles, no interference boots, splint boots, not even a belted heart monitor. ( I had to be asked to remove my belted heart monitor at the Biltmore one year). When I started doing Endurance in the early 80's we had very few rules, but due to the behavior of some folks, we now have more and more rules. (like you can't start a ride several hours after the majority of the riders leave and get your total time calculated on when you left the start line. That used to be done, no rule against that.. well, there is now.) I totally understand why some vets want the saddles removed, so they can check for soreness/swelling, wounds on the back and girth area, it's too easy to hide those things with a saddle on. Do I like taking off my saddle at checks? Hell NO! But I do as I'm asked, if I understand the reasoning, even if I don't understand it, I'll do it if I have to , but I'm just that way.. Well, that just my understanding of why, it could be totally wrong, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Columbia, Missouri Region 6 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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