ridecamp@endurance.net: Gate into hold

Gate into hold

Raymond Santana (rtsantana@ucdavis.edu)
Fri, 30 May 1997 14:58:11 -0700

I've lurked on this subjet for a few days now and decided to inject my 2
cents.
The "old" way of timing vet checks (in US) was to allow a set amount of
time to reach P&R criteria. This was usually 15-30 minutes for checks
and lunch usually allowed 1 hour with a 30 minute mandatory check by the
vet.
This is hte way TEVIS is run at lunch.
The "new" gate into a hold method appeared about 10 years ago.
This gives the horse with excellent recoveries an advantage in that the
rider could get throught the vet check quicker than with a horse in less
than optimum condition.
The problems I have observed with the "new" method is that a rider could
come into a checkpoint and be there for an hour getting the horse down
to criteria. The in timer was added to help keep an eye on this type of
animal abuse. The rider is given an arrival time card which lets the vet
make some kind of value judgement as to whether this horse is having a
problem.
The problems with the set time from arrival (old method) is the horse
with poorer recovery is "penalized" and not given much time to rest/eat
etc. especially if the rider is anxious to "get out" of the vet check.
Many will agree that the "new" P/R gate into a hold is giving the horse
a better chance at completing and also is getting riders to slow down
and recognize their horse is a living creature with needs for food and
water and rest. It also encourages us to do our homework, train properly
and understand our horses.

----------------------------------------------------
Raymond Santana
Network Operations
UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, CA
rtsantana@ucdavis.edu
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