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RE: [RC] Pull codes - heidiKatrina, your scenario here is a perfect example of why it is important to go back to the vet to have your horse re-examined and to discuss the situation with him/her. By your description, it sounded pretty clear that the vet made it clear to you that he wanted to see your horse again. He kept your card to ensure that you didn't go back out again without doing so. Then you seemed to have made some assumptions--one that he had "pulled" you (even when you say that he wanted you to come back) and one that the C was for gait.
I suspect that it was a good call for your horse not to go back out, but the vet wanted to do two things--one being to acertain if the wound on your horses's foot actually made him lame after he had time to stand and be more aware of it, and the second being to acertain if he was really ok and to talk to you further about the situation. The fact that you did not go back meant that your horse did not have the benefit of a second exam. Also, had you gone back, the proper pull code could have been assigned. There are three possible correct codes here. It is possible that your horse, on representation, would have been completely sound--but that you would have opted to pull because of the wound. (You are right--we probably should have an RO-SF code as well, but in this case, that would have been an SF pull.) There is a possibility that your horse might have been feeling the wound more by then, and might have been truly lame enough to merit an L pull. Or, he might have been just a tad bit ou
chy on it (say, sound most of the time but flinchy when he hit a rock or something)--in which case, the vet might have passed you, but your choice not to continue would make it a true RO-L pull.
The point here is that the exit exam is crucial. Ride vets should be more stringent about insisting on them--but in fairness, they do have a lot on their plates. So it is helpful if riders will be conscientious about returning for exams, even when they have decided to pull. That is the only way that accurate codes can be assigned--but even more importantly, that is how you get input from the vet as to what to do with the problem that your horse has.
Heidi
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