Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
I have to thank Jen, Chairperson of the Ventura County Chapter of CDS, for sharing this particular rule change. To see all of the USEF Rules or the list of proposed rule changes, visit this link. As of December 1, 2015, USEF is requiring all horses who show at USEF licensed shows have proof of Flu and Rhino vaccinations within the past six months. Here's the actual text of the rule: GR845 Equine Vaccination Rule In the current rule book, last updated 8/1/15, there is no GR845. It's a new rule that will go into effect with the 2016 show season. You can see the 2016 rule book here with the new rule in place. I don't have a problem with the rule change, but it will make things more expensive for me. Unless there is a special concern, I don't typically give fall versions of Flu and Rhino. My little herd of two lives with another little herd of two who rarely leaves the property.
If anything, it is my two with whom everyone should be concerned. I travel quite regularly and expose my horses to all kinds of stuff and then bring it back to our quiet little ho hum facility of four stalls. I guess I really should vaccinate them twice a year - for everyone else's sake. The new rule means that I will have now have to go to the vet at least twice a year. In the spring, my boys always get their annual vaccinations as well as have their teeth done. They also get a general all-over check and we do fecal counts. In the fall, I usually just take a poop sample to the vet and they call me with the results. Since I might show in the early spring, I'll need more recent proof of having administered both vaccines. We did them last in March of this year. Ah well, it's not like it's a huge burden, but it does mean several hours of driving across town and back. My vet's ranch call charge is a lot more than the price for a gallon or two of gas. And since my barn is so small, it's not like there are a bunch of us needing him for the same thing. I thought I had avoided a November vet visit. I guess I was wrong; we're going today.
Urgh. Another thing to mail in. Maybe? Or is it a "if we ask for it, you better have it" type thing? Plus the keeping track of the shots part. I'm only good at keeping track of my horse's coggins because I can print it out online and we pull coggins as close to Jan 1 as we can, so it's easy to remember when it was done. 11/11/2015 07:28:28 am
I am not sure how show secretaries are going to manage it. They'll either go hog wild requiring all sorts of documentation or simply sweep it all under the rug and assume everyone is covered.
Yupp, pain in the butt. I'm going to guess show management will sweep it under the rug, unless they get rumors of horses not vaccinated. Or they'll do "spot checks" of horses that get pulled for drug testing. 11/11/2015 08:20:10 am
When I first started showing, I used a folder to keep track of stuff, but two years ago I graduated to a binder with dividers and sheet protectors. It has made my life so much simpler. I give my horses their shots myself. I purchase them at our local feed store. The first time , I asked the Vet to show me, thereafter I've done it by myself. It's much easier than you think. The shots themselves are about the same price, but the savings of time and driving is what I appreciate . since I also vaccinate for strangles and west nile, the Vet does those along with their annual check up. 11/11/2015 07:21:42 am
Hi Carol! I used to give all of my own vaccinations too. In the last few years however, it has proven more "cost effective" to pay the vet to do it. By paying for these small things, I get quicker access to my vet over the phone because we have a more one on one relationship.
jenj
11/11/2015 07:42:00 am
Yeah... for me the new rules mean a summer vet visit since we do Coggins and vaccinations between Christmas and New Years. Oh well... we usually end up needing to have the vet out several times per year anyway, so whatever. I need less accident-prone horses or something. 11/11/2015 08:21:34 am
Maybe I need to switch to a December/June schedule. If it weren't for West Nile, I bet I could. I'll run it by my vet today and see what he thinks.
Mia
11/11/2015 08:23:34 am
Thank you, Amanda! 11/11/2015 08:28:03 am
That's a very useful form! I have a vet booklet that I use (I know I blogged about it before, but I can't find the post) that has all of their memberships numbers, vet contact info, and a place to record treatment dates and what was done. I hope someone checks out your link as it might be the solution they need. I am printing it out for future reference! 11/12/2015 05:24:11 am
Oops!
Heather
11/11/2015 05:54:49 pm
Think about switching the schedule so that after next year, you would still do the shots annually, just at the opposite point in the year. 11/11/2015 08:27:31 pm
The only problem with that is that I show for more than 6 months a year. Our weather is usually so mild that we can show all 12 months. :0) Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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