| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 01/31/2005 8:52:19 AM PST by Admin Moderator, reason:
Thread Four: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1332664/posts |
Posted on 12/30/2004 7:01:16 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!
I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.
So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
The heart rate is only judged at the P&R stops during the ride. When you come into the stop, your horse has 10 minutes for his rates to return to normal. And in regards to that, they will either make the P&R stop at the top of a long climb, or have some one standing 1/2 mile more or less from the spot and tell you to long trot too it.
They want the horses stressed when they come in, to see how quick thier rates come down. Another one of those weeding out things of out of shape horses.
If, there is just no way you can compete, but ecurbh wants too, you could ride drag. Personally I don't feel it is as fun, because you don't do the obstacles, or are judged.
Becky
I've been thinking:) about your problem.
Since Bay's navicular problem is so slight, you could try this. Ask you vet how long the drug stays in his system. Some of them take awhile to get out. Condition him real good on the drug, take him off of them for that period then go on a 20 mile ride at the 4mph pace. and see how he holds up, with the pads and proper shoeing he may be fine. Then put him back on as soon as your ride is over. It's only been recently that they even allow pads, and one reason they do is for the horses that have problems like that but are still good horses. I've heard of some people who have horses with the same problem that compete.
As far as the heart rate, get a stehoscope and monitor it yourself, while he is on the drug, then while you have him off.
Becky
Now that's a shame, lass, considering that vast numbers of Southerners are descended from Scots/Irish, me being one of em.
Can you give me some tips on how to post a reply on that yahoo group. I'd like to bump it to the top, but I can't figure out how. When I tried the "reply" area had your post and Bill's in it. Is that normal? My post just seemed to be attached to the bottom of his. Is that right? And at the top I noticed a warning about my e-mail address would be included. Is that OK?
Becky
Oh, sorry 'bout the SC misplacement then. I lose track when I don't have my cheat sheet in front of me. I'd left it at work.
I'd love to hear you give somebody a good cussin' in Gaelic. That'd be a hoot. I've tried reading some of it but can't make heads of tails out of how to pronounce it. It's not spelled like it sounds.
First, it doesn't look like they have even posted my reply to "Bill" yet. It's really cumbersome that all replies have to be looked at by the moderator before they post, especially if that person isn't even on duty a lot of the time. :~\
When you hit "reply" that text appears there, I put the cursor in the box an move all that down so my reply would appear at the top of it. If someone else wants to see what you were answering, they can read below and see.
On your email... go into your profile settings and make your email "private". I set mine to private. It was somewhere in the setup that it asked that. If you don't want it shown, that is.... Only members will see it.
Good morning!
OK so they check normal before you go, if his starts out higher than hormal, say 50, but returns to his normal within the allotted time, would that still be bad? I'm gonna ask the vet about his heart rate.
About riding 'sweep' or 'drag', I did that on the last 25 mile poker ride I went on. After 200 horses had gone through of all levels, I thought it was a pretty important job to make sure no one was stranded out there. I rode it with another friend, and I even got a police walkie talkie ;~D
But yeah - it'd be much better if I could ride with ecurbh. Maybe I won't do it now, with this horse, maybe I can, I don't know. I am not real serious about it - would be doing it for fun. We'll see if I can, if not, maybe after Bay retires and I have a fresher horse.
No, they don't set a "normal per horse" rate. That's why Rusty won't work. All horses rates have to fall in the same parameters. It's a pretty average parameter tho. At rest Rusty fell at the very high end of it, so that when he was working he went over, and since he had problems cooling, it took him longer then 10 minutes to come down to the proscribed parameters. Now that I think he is well, he "may" be OK. I've never gotten him in good enough shape since then to try.
Anyway, I'd just take Bays at rest, then work him good, let him stand 10 minutes and see where he is at.
Ecurbh could ride with you even if you rode drag, he'd just be at the very back of the competitiors. I've know competitors that rode with the drag riders.
And then there is one other thing. This might not be very ethical but....you could go ahead and ride him as is. In 5 years I've never been drug tested. It's so random, you'd probably get by. If you got caught, just say you didn't know:). I feel bad saying this, but IMO, the drug does not really give him an advantage beings as he has a problem. IMO it kind of balances out.
Becky
Good morning!
Stuff to consider! I don't really think it ~should~ be banned, because it's not a pain killer. It's an aid to circulation that helps him only because better circulation helps his feet feel better somehow. I'd understand if it was an anti-inflammatory or pain killer that would mask an lameness like Bute.
So... we'll see. Hopefully Celia still has the list.
I don't think that's ironic at all. It's called "free adult choice" :)
Becky
OOOHHHHHH, it's not an anti-inflammatory. I thought it was.
I'll keep on Celia about the list, I'll try to remember to call her when she is at home instead of work. You "can" remind me too:)
Becky
I did find that I have been spelling it wrong, which might be why I haven't found more than a few articles on searches ;~D
Description
Isoxsuprine (eye-SOX-syoo-preen) belongs to the group of medicines called vasodilators. Vasodilators increase the size of blood vessels. Isoxsuprine is used to treat problems resulting from poor blood circulation.
Heh.... Now that I search under the right name, I am finding that the AHSA and Racing Assns ban it. So that may just be the way it is.
Ah well.... we'll see. I'd rather keep him on it than try to see if I would rationalize that he still feels good off of it. His gait difference before he was diagnosed and put on it was so subtle most people didn't think he looked lame. But I could tell he was not as good as he had been the season before. My biggest hesitation is that a heavy conditioning program would do more harm to him than occasional pleasure trail rides would. He'd incur lots of wear and tear to get him to a point where he would be improved from the way he just 'is'. His job now is weekend trail horse and pet the rest of his time I think.
Hi there!
Pardon me for butting in, but I can see why they might ban it. If it's a vasodialator, it might enable some horses blood streams to carry more blood (oxygen) to their muscles, thereby giving them an unfair advantage, kind of like "Blood Doping" does for Olympic Athletes. Back in the 2002 Winter Olympics, two cross country skiers were stripped of their medals for doing it.
I don't know much about navicular so I shouldn't have an opinion on it:). But from the research my vet told me about it is that navicular is caused and worsened, by NOT enough conditioning. 1) I'm not trying to talk you into it or out of it, really, just discussing. 2) I would think a strong, physically fit horse would stay strong and physically fit longer then one not conditioned. 3) I would never say just suddenly start taking him out for hours at a time every day. I'd just say a common sense build up. And for this sport I don't call the conditioning I beleive you need to be "heavy". Build slowly to 3-4 times a week for 3 hour rides. Then about 2 weeks before a competion increase to 4-5 hours. 4mph, is not slow, but it's also not that fast. It does require some long trotting. I'd say the most important thing to look at in your situation is the terrain you'd be riding over. Rocky, hard, smooth, soft, hills? Etc.
Becky
Looks like you're right about that.... I found it banned in other disciplines.
Mack just pointed out a good point. Take the use of this drug in context. If a fully conditioned, young, athlete takes it, that's one thing, but a 22 year old navicular horse???? Big difference.
Becky
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.