Whether your horse received treatment at a ride or not, issues may arise that deserve your attention, or the immediate attention of your regular veterinarian, up to one week or more post-ride.
Years ago, AERC adopted a post-ride exam and "fit-to-continue" criteria for horses that crossed the finish line of endurance rides. Prior to that time, if a horse crossed the finish line and could walk soundly, the horse was deemed worthy of a completion. The value of controlling the last portion of the course was fortunately realized, and a full post-ride vet check was put into place.
The post-ride veterinary exam serves several important purposes and its value should not be overlooked by riders, ride vets or ride managers. Careful attention to setting post-ride criteria should be given by the head veterinarian working in close cooperation with ride management.
The purposes of the post-ride veterinary exam are to:
1. serve as a safety check to monitor for late-developing problems, as well as
2. extend veterinary control over the last portion of the ride.
The time period after finishing a ride is a crucial period for both rider and veterinarian to assess the horse for metabolic problems that are developing related to fatigue/dehydration/electrolyte derangement. Exams here should be as complete as those during the ride in order to evaluate the horse's metabolic status and advise the rider about any concerns and extra observation that may be needed.
A significant number of our most serious metabolic cases, some with poor outcomes, occur post-ride; the last portion of the ride is not the time to become lax in our control of the ride or our evaluation of the horses.
AERC is continually looking at ways to improve the welfare of our horses. As we have learned from the recent Kentucky Derby tragedy, if we as an organization do not continue to strive to make equine welfare a priority, the outside public will.
We fortunately have a very small percentage of equine fatalities each year associated with endurance rides. However, if we can prevent even one fatality through improved welfare measures within the organization then our efforts are worthwhile.
Much of improving the safety and welfare of our horses is accomplished through rider and veterinary education. Other methods of accomplishing this include improved safety measures being put into place that control our sport. A good example of this type of safety measure is the "fit to continue" at the finish line rule put into place years ago.
Defining 'fit to continue'
So in looking at "fit to continue," what do we really mean by this? Progressive heart rate recovery is one of the most useful indicators of a horse that is metabolically stable and fit to continue.
Most experienced riders and vets would agree that a horse that is fit to continue will recover within 30 minutes of ceasing exercise. This is backed up by research that documents horses taking longer than 30 minutes to recover are at risk for metabolic compromise. (1)
AERC recognizes this and thus has put into place the mandatory recovery period of 30 minutes at all vet checks. The current exception to this is the post-ride vet check, which is precisely where our horses may be at the highest risk for metabolic problems. Horses taking longer than 30 minutes to recover are at risk for metabolic compromise and these are the very horses that need to be identified early and promptly.
There is good reason, in terms of both preventing and recognizing horses at metabolic risk, for having a 30-minute maximum time requirement for pulse recovery during the ride, and these reasons do not change after the ride. The risk of metabolic problems does not diminish after the horse has crossed the finish line. In fact, some horses may be at greater risk.
Will a 30-minute post-ride recovery criteria prevent all horses from developing metabolic problems post-ride or will it even identify all horses that are at risk for metabolic problems? No. But will help in identifying these horses and is a step in the right direction from the current criteria which defines a horse that is taking just under 60 minutes to recover as being within the definition of acceptable and "fit to continue."
Will a 30-minute post-ride recovery requirement discourage or stop all "racing to the finish"? No. There are many fit, athletic horses that are very capable of racing into the finish yet because they are still at a pace within their ability, they recover promptly.
However, if a horse is taking longer than 30 minutes to recover after stopping exercise, then it is performing beyond its ability that day in those existing circumstances. The intent is to discourage riding at a pace to the finish that is beyond that particular horse's capability that day.
There are some rides where the finish line is quite a distance from the vetting area. For these rides, the 30-minute pulse recovery will not be practical and the head veterinarian, working in close conjunction with ride management, should simply take this into consideration and allow additional time, up to one hour. Additionally, there are occasionally extreme environmental conditions such as excessive heat and/or humidity that may preclude a 30-minute recovery from being practical.
Again, the head vet, working in conjunction with ride management, should take this into consideration on ride day and make adjustments as needed, allowing additional time if conditions warrant it.
Keep in mind that the current post-ride exam rule that we have worked under for years already allows for this type of flexibility: "6.2.1.2. The equine must reach a reasonable pulse recovery based on ambient conditions. The maximum pulse criterion is 68 bpm, however, the ride veterinarian(s) may allow a higher pulse criteria in documented extreme weather conditions." The current rule is written with flexibility in mind to allow for outside factors and professional judgment. This flexibility should remain in place.
Impacts of the 30-minute rule
A change to a 30-minute recovery period post-ride will make little difference to the vast majority of riders who ride according to their horse's ability throughout the entire ride. Where it will make a difference is to those riders and their horses who need to ride a more conservative pace the last portion of the ride. These are fortunately very few but are the very ones a 30-minute criteria will help address.
Riding with the mindset that your horse should recover within a reasonable amount of time, not only throughout the ride but at the finish as well, will only help your horse have a more successful and safer ride.
The 30-minute recovery at the finish line is already being used successfully at a number of AERC rides. "Successfully" means that most riders are not impacted by the change, there is little impact on the flow of the ride, and there is a perceived decrease in the number of horses being treated by the ride vets.
Practical benefits
Some AERC veterinarians have already recognized the practical benefits to the horses in setting a 30-minute recovery post-ride at rides. Some vets recognize the benefits in theory but have not practically applied this at rides and would like to evaluate how it works out at rides for the horses, riders and ride management. A "trial" of this change to 30 minutes post-ride recovery in real life is a good way for vets, riders and ride managers to determine how it works for the ride and how it maybe benefitting the horses.
If you are managing a ride where the finish line is reasonably close to the vetting area and extreme environmental conditions such as excessive heat/humidity are not expected, yours is a good ride to give the 30-minute post-ride recovery a try. Discuss this with your head vet well ahead of time.
And conversely, if your head vet is expressing a desire to try a change in the post-ride recovery to 30 minutes, consider if it will be practical at your ride -- is the finish line reasonably close to the vetting area? Are extreme weather conditions expected?
Discuss these issues with your head vet well in advance of the ride and together you will come to a decision on what will be best for the horses and will work for the ride.
Get the word out in advance
Keep in mind the current AERC rule allows for 60 minutes post-finish for horses to recover and any changes to this must be communicated to the riders in writing prior to the ride. If you and your head vet are changing the post-ride criteria to 30 minutes, you might include this information in your ride flyer or as information included in the rider packet.
It is also important to keep in mind that a trial change from the current 60-minute to the 30-minute recovery requires the express cooperation of both the ride manager and head vet well in advance of the ride.
The post-ride veterinary check is an important tool for riders and veterinarians to identify horses that are at risk for developing impending metabolic failure. The post-ride veterinary check is also an important tool in controlling the last segment of rides, when horses may be at the highest risk for overuse injuries or metabolic disease. Because protecting our horses is a priority for us all as riders, ride managers and ride vets we should encourage diligence in setting the standards for the post-ride exam.
1. C. Robert "Use of the recovery check in long-distance endurance rides" Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Vet J., Sappi, 34 (2002) 106-111
