As a rider, you likely at some point during your endurance rides have wondered why one judging vet may spend more time with each horse doing a thorough exam while another vet will be more abbreviated in their exam at a vet check. This variance in vetting styles and procedures is due to the fact that a regulated, "cookbook" procedure for examining horses does not exist for AERC.

Instead, AERC recognizes the importance of allowing veterinarians to use their professional judgment in examining horses for their ability to continue. AERC does dictate that a "substantive physical exam" will be performed in order to determine the horse's ability to continue. There also has been developed an AERC-approved rider card to be used at AERC rides. The card acts as a guideline in the examination process by listing the parameters to be checked.

How the veterinary exam is performed will vary amongst veterinarians depending on their experience and clinical judgment. Some very experienced endurance vets have developed a good eye for horses in trouble and can discern these with only an abbreviated exam. Some veterinarians will place more emphasis on certain parameters than others, depending on their clinical judgment.

The style of vetting and vetting procedures will also likely vary depending on the level of competition. High-profile, highly competitive rides such as championship-level rides will dictate more regimented vetting procedures. Events such as multi-day rides, where the level of daily competition is comparatively low and the stress level placed upon the horses is significantly lower, will lend themselves to a more abbreviated vetting style.

Veterinarians protect endurance horses' health and welfare by examining horses and advising riders during rides. Though how these exams are specifically performed will vary amongst veterinarians to some degree, the important thing to keep in mind is that AERC veterinarians have the horse's health and welfare as their number one priority. We just all may achieve this priority with different styles of vetting.