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It must be stressed that the welfare of the horse is paramount in ALL the different events run by ILDRA.
At all ILDRA rides you will have to fill in a Vet Sheet.
Before the ride you will fill in details such as horse's name, breed etc and
the rider's details, and the vet writer will fill in the rest of the sheet at
the start, end and if applicable mid-way vettings. Each type of ride has its
own vet sheet.
- NCR/Pleasure
Ride Vet Sheet
- CR
Vet Sheet
- ER
Vet Sheet
When you enter a Competitive Ride, your horse will be vetted
before the ride, 30 minutes after you finish, and in longer rides during the
ride. You should present your horse to the vet in a headcollar or a bridle
(your choice, as long as your horse is under control).
There are three main parts to the vetting:
 Taking the Pulse
The first thing the vet will usually do is take the pulse by
listening to the heart with a stethoscope. The pulse is taken over a full
minute, so it is important you train your horse to stand still while this is
being done. At every vetting the pulse must be under 64 beats per minute (bpm)
or you will be eliminated.
It is a good idea to practice taking the pulse at home.
Stethoscopes can be obtained quite cheaply either from a chemist or on the internet. (try Ebay)
Lumps and Bumps
The vet will then check your horse over for any 'lumps and
bumps'. If it has any recent injuries, you should note these down on your vet
sheet before the vetting. At the start of the ride the vet is just making sure
any current marks or injuries are noted, and that the horse is fit to start the
ride. At the final vetting, he will be looking for any new marks, for example
saddle sores, brushing marks, bruised mouth.
Again, make sure your horse is used to being handled all
over before the ride, will allow you to check inside his mouth, and pick his
feet up when asked.
 The Trot Up
Finally you will be asked to trot away a certain distance,
normally marked with a cone, and then trot back, to see if your horse is sound.
When you trot up, make sure you give your horse plenty of lead rope. Run along
side the horse, so you do not obstruct the vet's view. At the turn stay on the
outside of the horse, again so you do not obstruct the vet's view.
You will need to practise trotting up at home. Make sure
your horse will trot out smartly alongside you and does not trail behind you.
If the vet thinks the horse may be lame, he will ask you to
trot up again, and if he is still not sure a third time, with one of the other
vets watching again. If they cannot decide whether he is lame or not after
three trot ups you will be given the benefit of the doubt.
Farrier Check
At some events there will also be farrier check to ensure that teh horses feet are well shod and fit to ride the event distance.
To get started complete the form on this web site - click here - or come along to one of our rides as a Pleasure Rider (see Calendar) and talk to the ride organiser and other members - you can't beat trying it.
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