Tag: Horse Care

It's been almost two years since jockey Sophie Doyle has ridden in a race, but that doesn't mean that she's stopped competing. This weekend she'll be back in the saddle and hoping to get not to the winner's circle, but to the $20,000 TAKE2 Hunter & Jumper Finals at the Kentucky National Horse Show, held in Lexington, KY, at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The TAKE2 Hunter & Jumper Finals are open to qualified 2023 TAKE2 Thoroughbred League members competing in the TAKE2-affiliated Hunter and Jumper Divisions nationwide and will award $10,000 in prize money each in the TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper Divisions. The TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program highlights the accomplishments of retired racehorses in the sport horse world.

Pregnant with her first child, Doyle stopped riding races in December 2021. After Emilie was born in July 2022, Doyle took on multiple roles in racing, including breezing horses; representing Enviro Equine, which sells nutritional and grooming products; and ponying European horses at the 2022 Breeders' Cup.

The pony that she rode at the Breeders' Cup is Jaz N Tap, her first winner as a jockey in North America. Trained by Larry Demeritte, the bay son of Jazil had a modestly successful racing career. Jaz started 39 times over five seasons, and three of his four wins came with Doyle in the saddle.

Back in 2017, Doyle stopped by Demeritte's barn to see how Jaz was doing, and the trainer told her that he was going to retire the six-year-old and make him a pony.

“Larry looked at me and said, 'Why is your face lighting up like that? Do you want him?'” Doyle recalled.

She trained him first as a stable pony, then began working with him on cross-country, jumping, and dressage. Her options for showing were limited when she was an active jockey. Though all of her new roles keep her busy, she appreciates the opportunity to compete in the show ring more often.

“We finished second in two events,” she said, “and now we're going to compete this weekend, hopefully in the TAKE2 Final on Sunday.”

Because she began showing late this year, she hasn't accrued enough points yet to earn a spot in the Final, so she's hoping to earn a wild-card berth. Wild cards are given to the top five horses that compete in the TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper divisions at the Kentucky National Horse Show during the week leading up to the Finals.

Doyle expects to compete for the full season next year. She also said that she sees herself as something of an ambassador for the TAKE2 program, hoping that her presence will raise awareness of the opportunities for retired Thoroughbreds to compete.

“It's so great having the TAKE2 challenges out there,” she said. “There are so many classes around the United States, and I hope that we'll see a lot more people getting into it.”

Like so many other OTTB riders, Doyle sees Thoroughbreds as ideal for competition.

“They're already pretty natural athletes from racing, and they've been able to handle pretty much anything you throw at them,” she said. “They've already seen so much out there in the world, they're used to being around a lot of horses and having a lot of activity around them, so they don't get nervous. They just go out there and get the job done.”

A winner of five graded stakes races, including the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes in 2019 on Street Band, Doyle has been riding horses for pretty much her whole life, and despite all her success, she admitted that winning a blue ribbon with Jaz would be a significant accomplishment.

“It's pretty special to do this with a horse that I've had such a long relationship with,” she said. “We started off together, and now we're together in another career, taking a different path.”

The post Jockey Sophie Doyle Back In The Saddle For TAKE2 Hunter/Jumper Finals appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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That's Why I'm Me is a spicy, opinionated chestnut that came to New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program's Gansevort, N.Y., facility in the spring of 2022 through NYTHA's Take 2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program. After rehabbing three months for a tendon injury, trainer Amanda Vance started transitioning her to pleasure riding.

“She had a great work ethic and was super brave,” Vance said. “But she was also a hot tamale and not a particularly pretty mover. Unfortunately, she just wasn't the right fit for the adopters inquiring about her.”

Then one day on a New Vocations Zoom call, trainer Bridget Hollern mentioned that she was looking for a horse to develop in the Western disciplines to compete at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover; a mare was okay and small was actually an attribute. Vance told Hollern she had a good candidate for her to consider. Hollern promptly called her after the meeting. Photos and videos were sent, and just like that, the little mare with only one start and $300 in earnings was on her way to Ohio to learn ranch work.

Hollern soon dubbed her new project “Shorty” or “Princess Shortcakes” in reference to her mere 15 hh stature and bought a smaller saddle to fit her.

“She is everything expected of a chestnut mare,” Hollern laughed. “She hates to be groomed, but loves to be muddy. She loves to work but wants everything to be her idea. And when it's time to work, she is ready to go!”

It wasn't long before Hollern had Shorty working scary trail obstacles and ground tying. Then Hollern introduced her to cattle — actually buffalo, since that's what was available. When spring arrived, Shorty competed at a ranch riding show as well as in hand at a local hunter show.

“She seems to really enjoy her cattle work,” Hollern said. “She loves a challenge and gives her all every time. She was much more stressed at our local hunter show, where all she did was the halter class, than she was with the busy atmosphere of the ranch show.”

The next experience on Shorty's road to the RRP was mounted shooting.

“She was an absolute champ at that event,” said Hollern. “She rode with all the horses in the arena, saw the balloons, barrels, poles and worked around all the gun shots without an issue. We haven't actually fired off of her yet, but we don't expect her to have any issues with it.”

So what kind of training was being done on the scorching hot days of August? Swimming in Alum Creek fit into the Western riding scene nicely along with tackling trail obstacles at an American Ranch Horse Show. When they finally arrive at the Makeover in Lexington, Oct. 11-14, you can be sure the New Vocations team will eagerly be cheering for Bridget and her little red mare.

The post From The Starting Gate To Working Buffalo, This Chestnut Mare Shows No Fear appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Continuing to bring an unparalleled experience to the top level of international show jumping, the Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) is pleased to announce an exciting expansion in its 2024 tour with a CSI5* event and new FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier. In partnership with 1/ST , North America's leading Thoroughbred racing, pari-mutuel wagering, content and entertainment company, the newly unveiled Los Angeles CSI5*-W/2* will head to 1/ST's iconic Santa Anita Park, Nov. 20-24, 2024, offering a full national schedule and CSI2* competition alongside the inaugural Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Los Angeles CSI5*-W qualifying event.

Located in Southern California, Santa Anita Park is one of the world's preeminent Thoroughbred racing facilities. The illustrious venue has played host to equestrian events at the 1984 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles, Calif., and this year will present the Breeders' Cup World Championships for the record-breaking eleventh time.

Speaking to its caliber, SRJT Founder and President Derek Braun noted: “In partnership with 1/ST, we are beyond excited to bring such a high-level show jumping event to Santa Anita Park, an already historic facility in the equine industry.”

SRJT holds prestige of its own, selected by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) to host Longines FEI Jumping World Cup qualifying events for more than half of its existence. The tour has successfully managed CSI3*-W competition in Columbus, Ohio, and brought the CSI4*-W level to Fort Worth, Texas, which will also host the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and FEI Dressage World Cup Final in 2026, thanks in large part to the collaborative effort between the SRJT, City of Fort Worth, Dickies Arena, the Fort Worth Sports Commission, and Visit Fort Worth.

“1/ST is thrilled to be partnering with the Split Rock Jumping Tour for 2024. While our equestrian disciplines may be different, horses are at the heart of everything we do and our respective brands are synonymous with excellence. We look forward to hosting the Los Angeles CSI5*-W/2* and Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Qualifier event and welcoming a new audience to Santa Anita Park,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST RACING & GAMING.

Earning its allocation for four consecutive years, the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Los Angeles CSI5*-W is one of only 8 events selected to be part of the 2024 FEI Jumping World Cup North American League (NAL). The competition will offer valuable points in determining rider qualification for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Finals set in Basel, Switzerland for 2025.

Spectators of this inaugural event can also expect a world-class hospitality experience with a multi-tiered VIP area featuring many different levels of experiences with lavish food and drink options.

Since its 2015 inception, each year following has continued to bring monumental change to SRJT. The tour continues to enjoy its role in Longines FEI Jumping World Cup competition as it looks toward its biggest year yet in 2024 with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Los Angeles CSI5*-W, continuing to build excitement for the tour on its way to hosting the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.

Visit Split Rock Jumping Tour HERE.

The post Santa Anita To Host FEI Jumping World Cup Qualifier In December 2024 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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There are still so many things that baffle veterinarians and researchers, including how to manage chronic leg swelling called lymphedema that can lead to many more problems for the horse's health and comfort.

Lymphedema is a painful condition that occurs when the soft tissues retain fluid left behind after the cardiovascular system sends blood to the tissues and organs. Normally, the lymphatic system collects lymph (the remaining fluid) and returns it to the heart via a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. When something disrupts the lymphatic system's process, lymph collects in the appendages, thus causing swelling.

There are many causes of lymphedema in people, but the most common causes are surgical removal of the lymph nodes to treat cancer and infection. In horses, infection is by far the most common cause of lymphedema and is typically referred to as lymphangitis.

So, what is lymphangitis?
Lymph fluids are important to remove waste and toxins from the body's tissues.

Lymphangitis is often called different things: vasculitis, cellulitis, a staph infection or “big leg disease.” This horse disease is actually a recurrent bacterial infection. While it is identified by swollen legs, it is very different from a horse that is “stocked up.”

Stocking Up – non-painful swelling of the lower leg in two or more legs (typically the hind legs). Seen more as a minor issue, found in horses that have experienced a drastic decrease in exercise, perhaps due to an illness, weather or injury. It typically is resolved with light wrapping and upon return to exercise, even if it's just hand walking.

Lymphangitis – abrupt and intensely painful swelling of an entire single leg (again, typically a hind leg), accompanied by an elevated temperature (102-105 degrees F). The horse will exhibit more signs of discomfort and pain: depression, trembling, reluctance to move, rapid breathing, and sweating.

Lymphangitis is still a bit of a mystery in terms of how and why it occurs and ways to prevent it. The cause most often found is due to bacteria getting into the leg from a slight cut or abrasion. According to the AAEP, the bacteria then race to multiply:

“The bacteria reproduce quickly, causing inflammatory reactions of heat and swelling as the body attacks its invaders. The lymphatic system drains fluid from the leg, filtering it through lymph nodes that try to remove foreign pathogens (disease-causing organisms). The lymph nodes are overwhelmed and can, themselves, become infected. Lymph ducts and blood vessels become damaged and swollen and lose elasticity, with blood and lymph pooling on top of the one-way valves. The heart continues to pump fluid in, but the exits are blocked.”

The skin around the leg, which already lacks musculature, becomes tightly stretched as the leg swells, thus causing fluid seepage. That fluid can then burn the skin.

“Anything that can introduce bacteria under the skin and any sort of infection can lead to cellulitis and lymphangitis,” said Dr. Lauren Schnabel, professor of equine orthopedic surgery at North Carolina State University. “Wounds and insect bites can occur any time of the year in any climate, but moist humid environments are particularly a challenge. If there's any break in the normal skin barrier like happens with scratches, they'll be more likely to develop cellulitis and lymphangitis.”

Treatment for lymphangitis
Veterinarians will prescribe aggressive antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to combat the infection while also administering medication such as phenylbutazone and flunixin meglumine for the pain and swelling. While most swelling is tended to by cold therapy and bandaging, these treatments are often ineffective or only work for a short time before the swelling returns.

The biggest tool for treating lymphangitis is movement, which is difficult when the leg is so painful. So, what can be done?

In humans, the only way to encourage drainage for the lymphatic system is by lymphatic drainage massage. This type of gentle massage encourages the drainage of the lymph nodes and movement of the lymph fluids around the body. Humans can utilize lymphatic drainage massage, either manually or with a device, to move the fluid to be excreted from the arms and/or legs.

So how does this apply to horses?

Tune in next week to learn how a new treatment for lymphangitis might be the start of a revolution in horse healthcare.

The post What The L Is Lymphangitis? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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