Depending on your vet for training advice

[Bossanova]

Why do people do this? I know of one or two vets who can ride very well and them I'd trust- but your average equine vet is no super duper rider and woud be low down on my list of people to take advice on how to ride my horse from!!!!

 

[spaniel]

Ditto....I might take physio type advice from one of ours but anything other than that I want an instructor.

And it works both ways, I might take general vet advice from an experienced rider but would still check it out with a vet first.

 

[seabiscuit]

I think that people who depend on advice from vets that blatently know f all about horses is even worse! It really is scary...

 

[Partoow]

This is an interesting subject. I work with a vet and have been used to help horses with 'problems ' that are related to training.
The vet does not need to be able to ride to understand the biomechanical needs of the horse and how you the rider effect this.
Many people do not even know what straightness is let alone how to feel this or what the consequences of not paying attention to this are.
I think the advise of a vet could be a good starting point especially if they offer you contact with a trainer who may be able to continue your training and develope your horse along corrcet lines to extend the working life of your horse , which of coarse is why 'dressage' was developed in the first place, to improve the working life of cavalry/ light infantry horses.
I think its scarry that people would dismiss such advise especially if it is in the best interest of the horse.

 

[Bossanova]

But many vets dont understand the biomechanics of a horse! Not beyond the point of it's lame anyway....
I have a horse in currently as my vet (who is fab and I trust 100%) recommended to the owner that it's issues were due to incorrect training. In his case, it's proved invauable and he is now a sound, happy horse.
I have also been given some lousy advice from other vets, advice that I felt would actually be detrimental to the horse if followed.

 

[amage]

I'm lucky on this score...my vet showjumped ponies at european champ level and is a very talented rider and vet! i can trust any advice he gives absolutely implicitly!!

 

[Partoow]

Obviously i would not expect a non horse vet to be giving me that kind of advise. I only use a Horse specific practice, and it is about having vets you trust and who are more focused on equines.
Yes, vets do get it wrong but i have little time for a vet who cannot see they may need to seek a second opinion or admit it is not their 'area'.
Maybe I am lucky in my area to be blessed witha number of exellent equine practices.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I think it depends very much on the vets experience. We use a mixed practice but the horse vets are excellent, one owns and breeds thoroughbreds. I would and do take advice from them on fittening but not schooling etc. (not sure what you mean by training). If for any reason one of the small animal vets comes out to the horses they will always refer back to the horse vets if they are not sure of anything. I changed from a local practice to this one purely because I was not happy with the horse knowledge of the local vets, even though they were supposed to be a mixed practice too.

 

[AmyMay]

My vet is a hugely competative and successful rider - so yes would always follow his advice.

However, yes, can see where you're comming from generally on non riding etc. equine vets.

 

[Wishful]

If the vet's name is James Robinson, quite possibly. Otherwise, advice on uneven muscle build up/fitness training, not on how to jump/do a particular dressage movement