Have you ever wondered who is responsible for fees that are to be paid at an endurance ride?

We are all aware that riders are responsible for paying their own entry fees. Sometimes the ride manager will include the camp fees in that price and other times the riders need to pay these fees separately to either the ride manager or the campground. The ride manager is responsible for getting the drug testing fees and AERC fees paid, but what about a few other services that are offered?

Farrier. Coming into the first vet check, you look down and notice that your horse is missing a shoe. There is a farrier at the vet check and he rushes over nails a shoe on your horse so that you can get vetted and cleared to go on down the trail. Who is responsible for paying the farrier? Most riders would know that the fee is to be paid by the rider.

The farrier will normally be on call at a ride because the ride manager made arrangements for him to be there for the riders' convenience. It is not a requirement to have a farrier on site but it has made many of us happy when the situation arises that we need one. Sometimes the farrier is paid a per diem just to stand by; other times he is there because a spouse is riding or just because he knows how much he is needed.

Who should pay the farrier when the rider uses his services? The rider, of course, is the correct answer.

Control veterinarian. All endurance riders get very good services from our vets while attending endurance rides. Before, during and after every ride our horses get a thorough going-over by the ride vet.

We should feel fortunate that a ride manager was willing to find a qualified veterinarian to come vet the ride. The ride manager pays for the veterinarian's professional services for "judging the ride" (and, yes, the rider fees help pay this fee). AERC does require every endurance ride to employ at least one control veterinarian.

Treatment veterinarian. The treatment veterinarian is not required to be hired for a ride. Most ride managers like to have one as a convenience to the riders. Some rides will make arrangements with nearby equine clinics and send horses there if the ride vet feels treatment is necessary.

Most ride managers who hire a treatment veterinarian will also use her as a control vet until her services are needed as a treatment vet. At some rides these individuals will act as control vets all day due to no horses needing treatment.

In the unfortunate circumstances that your horse needs treating in any way during a ride, who is responsible for the vet fees?

The rider is always the private client of the treatment veterinarian and is the responsible party, not the ride manager or anyone else. A rider of course should ask how much the vet thinks the procedure is going to cost. If the rider is not comfortable with the fees or treatment, he can always transport the horse to the clinic of his choice. Once the treatment has been performed the rider needs to pay the vet promptly before leaving the ride site or make payment arrangements with the veterinarian.