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RE: [RC] Myths - Susan E. Garlinghouse, DVM"I can't remember the last time I saw an LD horse requiring treatment." Come stand next to me vetting a ride sometime. This does NOT count as a statistically viable conclusion, but looking at the notes of the last ten horses I treated the last year or so at different rides, all in the PS region, were: 1) LD - underfit and not well suited, pushed to finish anyway, though not raced, thumping and not recovering at the finish. Needed banamine and barely squeaked by without IV fluids afterwards. 2) 50 mile - took a wrong turn and needed some sutures after running into a fence post. 3) LD horse/rider on first ride, wasn't drinking but pushed to finish mostly at a gallop anyway, crashed waiting for completion check and came within a whisker of being euthanized. Survived with VERY aggressive treatment. 4) 50 miler, both horse and rider very experienced, ridden well within limits, sudden onset of colic at 35 miles (ten minutes after passing the VC with flying colors), recovered well with a few liters of IV/NG fluids and a half dose of banamine. 5) 50 mile first ride for both rider/horse, horse wasn't drinking in cold weather, treated with IV fluids, survived to be shipped to clinic, developed laminitis and was eventually euthanized. 6) LD - inexperienced rider, bit colicky a few hours after well-managed ride, needed half dose of banamine, but did okay without further treatment. 7) LD - experienced rider, horse passed final check, but not eating later, took about 20 liters of fluids to come around. 8) LD - not eating after barely reaching finish line pulse criteria 30 minutes after coming in, recovered with banamine and 30 liters IV/NG fluids. 9) 100 mile horse, experienced rider on horse's first 100, not recovering well and not eating at 75 miles, recovered with half dose of banamine. 10) LD - rider fell off, horse ran off and through wire fence, needed suturing. There were also a few very minor treatments for cuts accumulated on the trail, from overreaching, that sort of thing. Of the above riders, I would arbitrarily categorize them as 1) 40% clueless inexperienced rider (3 LD, 1 50 miler) that pushed when they shouldn't have; 2) 30% experienced rider just having a metabolic bad day where overriding was not obviously a factor 3) 30% just having a non-metabolic bad day where overriding was not a factor (ie, Sh*t Happens)(2 experienced riders, one inexperienced rider) Would I use these "results" (which are nothing more than a few skewed data points) to change AERC policy, nope, no way. The only conclusion is that yes, LD horses(or, more specifically clueless inexperienced riders regardless, the majority of which seem to be LD) do sometimes need treatment for metabolic issues, and it's not an unusual or unique event. There may be regional differences in the break down of veterinary treatments provided, but I do NOT think LD treatments are a phenomenon unique to the PS. JME. Susan Garlinghouse, DVM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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