I originally sent this just to Kimberly, but she thought the rest of
you might be interested in what I added to her comments, so I'm forwarding FYI.
Hi Kimberly--
I'm getting caught up today on this week's email. Been sitting at
the computer at home for most of the past five hours. Ridiculous...
Loved your post to the list about crewing for Suzie. Need to work
on my notes before I forget everything! Maybe this evening. Got too much
to do today.
>Preride Planning
>
>1. Write down what that rider wants you to do, where he/she wants you
>to be at what times <snip> During sleep deprevation and excitment it is
very >easy to forget details.
ABSOLUTELY!!! Part of what will be on my list of instructions for
next year :)
>Cooling the Horse
>
>1. Buckets of water with a scraper. Meet your rider and he/she rides
>in and start cooling immediately. Crew members can ensure the water is
>not too cold by drawing it ahead of time and putting the buckets in the
>sun. Ask first before putting any water on the flanks.
Would add to this -- meet the rider at the "In" timer, a few hundred
yards up the trail if possible. At Robinson I think the "In" timer would
have been adequate, Michigan Bluff I think we did good going up the trail.
Quarry was okay to wait in the "crew area," same at Foresthill (if we'd made
it there in time :)).
>>2. Ice boots. Put in cooler of ice and water as preparation.
Loved Karen Chaton's idea about the 2 liter plastic bottles and
water. That was wonderful and would work much better than ice.
>3. Cooling "dowel" ?? on horses head. I never saw one of these before
>and if anyone on the list can help me with what it is really called and
>where I can buy one, I would be most grateful... :)
I know they say "Cool Off" on them somewhere. You might try
Australian Connection or Pony Express. I'll see if Dom @ Go-The Distance
carries them this weekend and let you know how much they cost. They aren't
in the latest Sportack catalog or Trail's End...
>Feeding the horse
>
>1. Find out what the horse is to be fed ahead of time and prepare it
>accordingly before the horse gets there. Give him/her some time
>without fusing over him/her to just enjoy eating and relaxing.
I'd add to this bran in gallon ziplock bags for each check (not
5-gallon pail) and a couple of flakes of hay rather than the big bag we
hauled around :), not that it was a problem, just seems like it would have
been easier to carry a little less.
>2. Have the electrolite mixture ready and waiting before the rider
>comes in.
Probably a good idea if the crew has time.
>We also rubbed the horse's muscles to keep them loose and relaxed.
>Checked his feet and shoes. Checked heart rate and gut sounds
>throughout the holds.
I thought all this stuff was great. I probably wouldn't have
thought to massage him on my own. The feet/shoes are a definite MUST DO and
should be done as soon as the horse comes in so you have time to line up the
farrier if necessary.
>Ann was simply wonderful with her stories, sense of humor and energy.
She was amazing! I think she was in better shape at the end than
you and I were :)
>Thank you to Sue Flagg (who is not a novice, just says she is!).
Yes and no. This was only the 3rd time I'd crewed for anyone, and
the first time at Tevis. I've learned an awful lot from this list, and
learned even more putting it all into practice last weekend :)
Thanks to all of you on the list who've given me ideas!
>Its been a long time since I stayed awake 26 hours in a row
I'm not sure I even remember if I've ever stayed up that long! Well
maybe when I was in college :)
>He is a wonderful well behaved horse
Wasn't Kooter a delight to work on. What an amazing horse! But
he's been around the block a few times. Just hope mine become that calm at
the checks.
Sue