Education - Preventing Treatment

"What Riders Can Do" AKA KNOW YOUR HORSE

This checklist is an educational tool for the rider in the proper care of the horse before, during and after the ride. Each Item deserves considerable explanation. Riders are encouraged to seek far more information. See Rider and Vet Handbook.

Learn by helping out a ride, e.g. being recorder for vet.

Pre-ride

1. Maintain regular de-worming program. Endurance riding can reveal underlying parasite damage.
2. Know your horse. As part of training and conditioning due your own “vet check exams”: End workouts with a quick vet check including trot out, check for dehydration, pulse, etc. The best riders learn ADR= Ain't Doin' Right - a very important parameter although difficult to define. Monitor horse’s weight. Should be neither too heavy nor too lean. Keep a log book.
3. Do mini-vet exam. Check temperature; trot out before leaving home and after arriving at ride site.
4. Bring the horse into the ride well hydrated. Electrolyte to encouraging drinking upon arrival, feed slurries, or even bring water for finicky drinkers. For horses accustomed to grass, hand grazing on grass is excellent.
5. Trailering is stressful. Water regularly. Horses trailered more than 3 hours need 12 hours to recover. More than 5 hours need a full day. Loosen up muscles after trailering thru easy exercise. Use fly masks to protect eyes during trailering.
6. Minimize feed change as far as possible. Make sure horse has plenty of forage.
7. Watch EDPP-MF; eating, drinking, peeing, pooping and moving freely. Know and observe your horse.
8. Plan your ride carefully; plan a ride time based on past ride times, weather, trail conditions and state of conditioning your horse. Ride to your plan, not to what other horses are doing.
9. Electrolyte starting well before the ride so horses will drink properly. At least prior pm and am before starting.
10. Learn your horse’s needs and adjust your ride plan according to what the horse tells you.
11. Maintain proper hoof care. Shoe properly for ride to minimize chance of injury and extra stress.
12. Make sure your horses are secure at the camp site and are trained for your stabling arrangement.
13. Select rides and ride strategy i.e. how cautiously you ride with a view to ride management, veterinary controls, number of stops, distance between holds, etc.

Ride (Remember the ride vets are there to help you!)

1. Watch EDPP-MF. All normal, fine. If not, slow down or stop.
2. Horses need to rehydrate, feed, and rest by about 15 miles. Horses rehydrating early do much better.
3. Monitor Progressive Pulse Recovery During Check. The pulse should continue to drop during the hold period and be 8 to 20 beats lower than the criteria by departure time. If not slow down or check with vet. Watch weight loss during ride.
4. If concerned on trail about ADR “Ain’t Doing Right” do a mini-vet exam and CRI on the spot.
5. Watch out for over-excitement that can cause early tie-ups, dehydration, etc. Much of the critical electrolyte and water loss in horses occurs in the first 10 to 20 miles. Warm you horse up thoroughly or wait a couple minutes after the start and use the first couple of miles as warm-up.
6. Be willing to let leaders go, separate into small group going at your pace.
7. Adjust for temperature and footing. Humidity even if cool necessitates slowing down as does heat. Muddy, sandy footing, single track twisty, side hill, and even slippery grass, require far more work as horse cannot use natural suspension system.
8. Give your horse every opportunity to drink. Wait at water stops, loosen the girth if necessary. Train your horse to drink.
9. Electrolyte regularly and often. As much as once per hour if hot, humid or difficult footing.
10. Ensure the horse is getting enough energy food for pace of ride.
11. Use a heart monitor and if readings are higher than expected for terrain, etc. slow down.
12. Learn your horse’s needs and adjust. If in doubt at vet check, discuss with vet your concerns.
13. Slow down coming to vet check. Start out slow from check or warm up before leaving vet check. Abrupt changes are hard.
14. On cool or wet/windy days cover your horse to prevent cramping or tying up at holds. Consider a rump rug.
15. Use body work such as TEAM work and massage at holds.
16. Use the vet as your partner and friend. Discuss any concerns with them. The only stupid question is the one not asked.

Post Ride (these are steps to avoid treatment and do not include leg care, massage, etc.)

1. Watch PPED-MF. Peeing, pooping, eating, and drinking -- moving freely. All normal, fine. If not, check w/ vet.
2. Rehydration thru free access to water, offer slurries, etc.
3. Postpone concentrated feed for several hours, particularly if pulse stays up. Feed small amounts frequently.
4. Monitor post ride pulse recovery, dehydration level, and gut sounds.
5. Blanket if necessary if weather is cool; use rain sheets to keep dry if necessary.
6. Any question w/ hydration or colic, immediately see vet (vets not experienced w/ endurance horses should consult with endurance vet if possible); do not hesitate to stomach tube or aggressively get hydration to normal through IV if necessary.
7. Do not trailer horse home until adequately recovered and hydrated. Ideally trailer home the next day so the horse has overnight to recover. Electrolyte for trailering.
8. If you believe the horse ADR – Ain’t Doing Right, go see the vet. Vets are there to help the horse.

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