Re: Vet check question.

[K S Swigart <katswig@deltanet.com>]

On Wed, 22 May 1985, Linda Parrish wrote:

> back. One of the front running horses seemed to be getting in trouble,
> so Bo first told the rider that his horse needs to be pulled, then took
> the horse/rider to see the vet. P/R personnel and Vets were appalled
> that a P/R person would do such a thing. Seems the P/R people do not

_I_ would be appalled at this too.

> 	How many rides out there think that P/R personnel shouldn't interact
> with the vets? Good P/R people can become a great asset to the vets,
> IMO. A good P/R person knows what is going on around the horse and
> evaluates the entire situation before sending/taking the horse to the
> vet. 

I think P&R people should determine whether the horse has met criteria
(which pretty much at every ride I have been too is now just "P" no "R"
about it).  Should mark down on the vet card the pulse that was taken, and
the time it was taken....and if they notice that the pulse is irregular,
or weak, or whatever...they can make a note of that too.

And they can share the same information with me.

What I don't want them doing is telling me how (or whether) I should or
should not be riding my horse. And they shouldn't be trying to b ride
vets.  IT is the job of the vet and/or the rider to determin if a horse is
fit to continue. It is the job of the P&R people to take P&R's.

If a novice rider (or any other rider for that matter) ASKS for the P&R
person's opinion about the condition of their horse, by all means provide
it...but this opinion should, IMO, never be volunteered. 

kat
Orang County, Calif.