Some answers

February 19, 2012 1 Comment

Up your nose with a rubber hose.

It’s been a while since I’ve written, because until late last week, there wasn’t much to say.   Derby was finally re-scoped on Thursday, and we now have a better understanding of what is going on in his larynx.   Dr. Chris Downs from Merritt Equine, the surgeon with whom my vet Dr. Nicky Wessel has been consulting, concluded that it’s likely that Derby has a partially entrapped epiglottis, and that the situation may be alleviated with a relatively minor surgery to free the entrapment.

Once again, while the scope was in, Derby displaced his soft palate. Below you can see what his airway looks like, before he displaced.  Even a layperson can see the asymmetry of the structure of the larynx, which contributes to the problem.   In addition, one of his flaps (arytenoid cartilages) is paralyzed, and the tie-back surgery he had as a two-year old has failed.

Derby's airway, before displacement. Click on the image for a larger view.

Here’s a picture of the airway after he displaced.

Derby's airway, when he displaced his soft palate. Click on the image for a larger view.

When a horse displaces its soft palate, the airway is significantly constricted, which you can see in the photos above. The epiglottis disappears under the soft palate, which is the strangest thing.  The entire confirmation of the airway appears to change (and, in effect, does change) in a split second.

The drugs Derby has been on (SMZ, dex, Previcoxx) have had a significant effect in reducing the inflammation of the airway structures since the first scoping.  However,  Derby has developed a fairly large ulcer on the edge of his epiglottis (clearly visible in the second photo, above) so we’re continuing with the SMZ and other meds.  Dr. Downs did his surgical internship at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee in Kentucky – one of the top clinics in the world and one that does a lot of work on Thoroughbreds.  He’s going to send Derby’s pictures to some colleages there for a consult, but right now, it looks like a surgery to help free the epiglottis will be the next step.

Separately, I mentioned in an earlier post that I was wondering if Derby’s meds were having an effect on his rideability recently.   However, after talking to my vet and some others, it looks like the cause of the hot and spooky behavior was weather-related.  We’ve had really strange weather lately – including a nose dive into real frigid temperatures, followed by more abnormal warmth.   My vet tells me that they’ve been inundated with calls complaining of horses acting crazy, and others at my barn are being uncharacteristically loony.

During this time, I stood down.  If you recall, I’ve come off Derby twice in the last couple months.  Neither fall was a bad one and I was able to get back on.  However, when on the heels of those falls Derby started acting crazy, my confidence was rattled.  After a couple rides in which I rode numerous stupid spooks, I decided to take a little time off, since those falls were pretty close to the surface.  Simply put, I couldn’t push through it.   I can ride spooks, and Derby’s aren’t bad.  However, the change in overall behavior (big blow up spooks on the ground, and under saddle) combined with still-fresh bruising from my last trip into the dirt were just too intimidating for this ammy.

While I doubt that we’re out of the woods with weather induced behavior, I did ride on Friday, and Derbs didn’t put a foot wrong.  Unfortunately, I’m now laid up with a bout of the flu, and won’t be riding until I feel better.   But I’m happy that the problem isn’t the meds – if Derby needs to stay on some of those meds for a longer term, once the weather warms up, I should have my old sweat pea back. 🙂

 

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Flat tire

February 3, 2012 2 Comments

Well, so much doing “a little bit more”  in my lesson last night.  Derbs was covered in mud – and missing a shoe.   He’s getting his flat tire fixed today, and I’ll be back in the saddle tomorrow.

In the meantime, I’d like to give a frequent commenter, Annette, a shout out – she’s taking her Thoroughbred to a show this weekend.   I can’t wait to hear how they fare – I will admit to being completely in love with her tall, dark, handsome boy Tuscon – can you blame me?  He is FANCY!

(I am shamelessly ripping off a photo from her Flickr account to show you how lovely they are.)

Good luck, Annette! 🙂

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80% of Americans Strongly Oppose Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption

February 1, 2012 Leave a comment

A break from our regular programming folks, to highlight pending legislation that I hope many of you will support, namely the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 2966 and S. 1176 ).

The ASPCA released results of a survey in which Americans strongly opposed horse slaughter. From the press release: The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced in a newly released poll conducted by Lake Research Partners that 80 percent of American voters are opposed to the slaughter of U.S. horses for human consumption. The nationwide survey reveals that Americans oppose horse slaughter overwhelmingly regardless of their gender, political affiliation, whether they live in an urban or rural area, or their geographic location. Further, it confirms that a vast majority of horse owners are also against the slaughtering of our nation’s equines.

Read the full release here: ASPCA Research Confirms Americans Strongly Oppose Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption

If slaughter could be done humanely, and if the slaughter pipeline was regulated so injured horses weren’t sent to auctions, stuffed onto double decker trucks designed for cattle and shipped for days without food and water, then frankly I’d be all for it.   I’m not opposed to the idea of slaughtering horses.  I am opposed to the cruelty of the current US system, and frankly, the economics of this tiny industry are not likely to be swayed by public opinion as has been the case for the processors of cattle, pigs and chickens, all of which have seen improvement in the treatment of animals.

I hope you ‘ll take a second to call or write your Congressmen and women today, and ask them to support the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

 

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Retired Racehorse Training Project

January 23, 2012 Leave a comment

Newly retired racehorses were introduced to their new trainers at the Horse Expo last week.

I’ve enjoyed watching Christy bring her young  OTTB Remy along over the last year, and I think you’ll agree with me that the results have been dramatic.  So I was glad to see OTTBs taking center stage with the Retired Racehorse Training Challeng, which kicked off Friday at the Horse Expo in Timonium MD.

Hosted by the Retired Racehorse Training Project, a 501(c)3 that has as its primary mission the promotion of ex-racehorses as pleasure and sport horses, the Challenge will track the progress of three horses and their trainers.   For the next five weeks, the horses will undergo retraining with their new trainers.  The trainers will show off their charges at the Pennsylvania Horse Expo in February, where a winner will be selected.

Follow along with the Challenge here: Retired Racehorse Training Challenge

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OTTBs are Awesome. OTTBS are Disposable.

January 16, 2012 Leave a comment

Two big stories in OTTB land broke today, one awesome, and one awful.

First, the awesome:  Boyd Martin’s OTTB Neville Bardos was voted USEF Horse of the Year.  This amazing creature was a failed race horse, and was headed for the slaughterhouse.  However, Boyd scooped him up, and now the horse is a favorite to make the US Olympic 3 Day team.  As if that wasn’t enough, Neville Bardos also made a dramatic recovery from serious injuries sustained in a barn fire.  If that isn’t thoroughbred heart, I don’t know what is.

Here they are, running XC:

Now for the awful.

More than 100 thoroughbreds never got a fair shot at a second career, despite the fact that the young woman who took them from the track promised their owners she would find them good homes.  She posed as a rescuer, handing out promotional items stamped with slogans promoting second careers for race horses, but turned around and sent the horses straight to slaughter, even after accepting money and feed given by the owners to help her efforts.

“Those crazy people don’t have to look for their horse anymore because he is in a box in a freezer and thanks for the money and the feed.”

At only 23, Kelsey Lefever has managed to achieve several lifetimes’ worth of evil.  You can read the full extent of her crimes (she’s been charged with multiple felonies) on the Paulick Report: “Every One of Them is Dead.“

Kelsey Lefever, kill buyer, and charged with fraud and multiple felonies

Kelsey Lefever, kill buyer, and charged with fraud and multiple felonies

She doesn’t look evil, or untrustworthy.  This isn’t the face you’d ever imagine on a person that would take an animal you care about, for which you’re trying to find a home, and send it immediately to a grisly death.

But you can’t judge a book by its cover.

“I killed every one of those f—ing horses, over 120 of them, if they only knew. I only have five left and the ones that you have. Every one of them is dead. I don’t even know their names and there wasn’t a goddamn thing they could do about it because they gave me those horses.”

– Kelsey Lefever.

Finally, I leave you with an impassioned plea, and some very good points, from Allie Conrad, a tireless CANTER volunteer and long time rescuer of and advocate for ex-racehorses:

I wish we could nail all of the people stealing horses from our racetracks under false pretenses and selling them direct to slaughter for a measly 300$ in profit per horse with widespread articles, shares on Twitter and Facebook and photos of their faces.  Unfortunately, we usually can’t unless there is a public record of their absolutely soulless transgressions.

Thankfully in regards to a case that occupied a lot of my free time this past spring, someone pressed charges on this vile creature, Kelsey Lefevre, so her name could be publicized. Remember this face! Remember that for every horse you give away, no matter how pretty the girl who shows up is, no matter how sweet they seem, no matter if they have kids in tow, no matter if they say they are a grandmother looking for a horse for their grandchild–NO MATTER WHAT, you MUST check references and you must be prepared to listen to your gut and just say no if you feel uneasy.  You are better off putting an animal down humanely before trusting that it will land on it’s feet with someone who you do not trust.  Checking references means asking people for their vet or practice name, and obtaining the phone number yourself after checking the validity of the identity of the person who wants to give your horse a home.  It means calling and speaking to the vet and asking questions like “how long has X been a client? How many horses does X have? How would you rate X’s fencing? Would you give her a horse of yours?”.  You may get answers that require you to read between the lines, but if you’ve existed with any success long enough to have horses, you certainly have a “gut instinct”.  Follow it! Your horses’ life may depend on it.

We have heard every vile story in the book over the past 15 years.

We have had women who borrow disabled children from neighbors to obtain “therapy horses”, only to sell them to New Holland or straight to slaughter.

We have had countless people show up asking for “4H horses”.  (I, for one, have never met a 4H’er looking for a horse)

We’ve heard the “camp horse” angle.

We’ve heard the sick daughter angle and her dying wish is a horse of her own.

We’ve heard the “we’re really broke but will give him a great home!” angle.

We’ve just heard it all, and sometimes it’s hard to remember that not everybody has.  Please tell any person you know at the track, any person you know with horses, that these people are out there, and they are out there in droves.  They WANT TO TAKE YOUR HORSES AND KILL THEM FOR A PROFIT.  Remember that.  Kelsey’s head has been cut off, but three more will spring up in her place, and they will have t-shirts and coffee mugs, and brochures to convince you that their dimpled smile would NEVER let anything bad happen to your horses.  They are liars and they are laughing every time they take a horse that you help load on their trailer so they can deliver it straight to it’s very cruel death. 

Want to protect your horses in the best way you can? Keep them for life.  For lots of folks, they can’t pull this off.  But they can pull off developing a relationship with a verifiable, well-reputed Non-Profit working near you, setting aside money to care for your horse and donating it, and 1 year worth of expenses to that group.

No doubt that lots of folks knew exactly what Kelsey was up to.  Those are the folks that were looking for a cheap, fast way to dump problem animals (problems because they simply existed and weren’t fast enough) and wash their hands (and consciences!) of it.  But, there were lots of folks who thought they were doing the right thing.  They trusted a cute brunette who handed them a mug and a magnet touting her amazing skills in finding homes for horses, and those people are no doubt reeling from the fact that their animals–the animals who trusted them–are dead from a violent death. I cannot imagine their fury, because if it’s anything like mine, they are physically ill and ready to kill.

“You are responsible forever, for those you have tamed”– St. Exupery

Protect your animals, you are all they have.

Allie

www.canterusa.org/midatlantic

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Forever Alone Horse

January 12, 2012 1 Comment

Derby has been stuck inside for days now, nursing a hugely blown abscess that exited via one of his heel bulbs.  The ground is still muddy, so for now, he’s in.  He’s actually handling it extremely well, due in part because I am able to wrap the foot well enough to keep the wound clean while he enjoys some playtime in the indoor arena.

Early this morning,  I turned him out as the other horses were being taken outside.   He didn’t frolic.  He stood in the middle of the ring, ears swiveling, and then whinnied forlornly. It was such a sad little whinny.   Poor kid.  He’s convinced that he’s been abandoned by the herd, consigned to be forever alone in the arena.

It’s snowing and freezing today, so tomorrow he gets to go out.  And he’s going sound, so I’m going to get on for an easy ride tonight.  He’s over the hump, and he’s such a good boy.  Hang in there, Derbs!

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Kudos to OTTB Designs

January 10, 2012 2 Comments

The good folks at OTTB Designs finally came out with a dressage-size version of their handsome saddle pads, emblazoned with a leggy horse and “OTTB,”  leaving no doubt about the lineage of the frisky hot blood (or pokey plain bay, as the case may be) underneath.

All of OTTB Designs’ sales benefit thoroughbred-related charities, including several rescues and adoption groups and a number of retirement organizations.  That’s fantastic.

Even better, OTTB Designs are responding to a real crisis down South, donating $5 from every pad sold to the Louisiana Horse Rescue Association.  This accredited 501(c)3 is on the front lines of a big  rescue from a failing TB breeding farm.  Every little bit helps (and more is needed, consider a separate donation to LHRA, I’ve already sent mine in!) because they are arranging for transport, quarantine, treatment, care and shelter for dozens of thoroughbreds that are in very poor condition.

I just ordered two.  One for Derbs, and one for Liam.  Don’t tell him, it’s his Valentines’ Day present.

Kudos to OTTB Designs – and to LHRA too.

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Blew. Rhymes with “Ewww.”

January 9, 2012 Leave a comment

I arrived at the barn tonight shortly after the horses were brought in, and was greeted by the sight of a dripping, muddy Derby – apparently, he had been frolicking in the goo right before he was brought in. Once of the girls told me that he had been running around.  “Decidedly un-Derby-like behavior,” I mused to myself, “Wonder if that abscess blew?”

I didn’t need to look closely to know the answer,  because in addition to standing happily in deep shavings on his ouchy foot, a tell-tale odor emanated from him.  Abscesses are stinky, and this one was particularly foul.

I cleaned up the leg and had a look.   An icky wound oozing pus now graced Derby’s magically deflated right heel bulb.   It’s still tender, and he didn’t appreciate my cleaning it, but we got the job done.  Due to the muddy conditions, he’s staying inside for a few days to give it the chance to heal.  But hopefully, we’ll soon be back in business, and back in the saddle.

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Some relief

January 8, 2012 Leave a comment

Derby's ouchy heel - the right bulb is swollen.

It’s day number God-only-knows-what of gooey mud here, and about a week or so into Derby’s lameness.  I mention the mud because I meticulously clean his legs every time I go out to the barn – which is normally six times a week.   Over the last week, that right hind on which he’s been off has been a little tender to the touch, but with no evident heat or swelling.  After doing a thorough lameness exam, including flexions and hoof testing (all was fine),  Dr. Nicky told me not to worry too much about it, was probably just a tweak due to the awful muddy footing, but nothing serious.

Well, I got a little relief today when I went to see Derbs.  As I was cleaning that foot off, he snatched it away, holding it up for a minute.  Clearly, my gentle attention with a soft jelly scrubber wasn’t gentle enough.  Once I got a decent amount of the mud off, I was able to feel that one of his heel bulbs was hot, angry and inflamed. I carefully wiped the mud away and took some pictures, which I emailed to my vet.

Without having her input yet, it appears to me that he’s brewing some kind of abscess. I hope his body just resorbs it, rather than blowing a big hole out his heel.  As gross as that scenario would be, however, it’s better than having an issue with a suspensory or the joint.    So, I’m relieved, even if poor Derby isn’t.  He got another couple grams of bute, eased along by a lot of molasses, and some extra cookies for his woes.

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2011 in review

December 31, 2011 2 Comments

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 8,500 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

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