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Beloved Son Of Secretariat Passes At 30

The great Secretariat had just four of his progeny alive and well in the beginning of 2020. That number would be down to three by 2021. The youngest of his offspring, Secret of the Sea (later dubbed “Strider”), was one of the last foals born in Secretariat's final crop in 1990. Bred by Darley Stud, Strider wasn't destined for the greatness of his father, finishing his career with just one win in nine starts.

Strider was retired by trainer Clint Goodrich and kept as his personal horse, living in Montana and then Colorado, where he came to be owned by racing fans Linda and Scott Riba in 2011.

The couple enjoyed nearly nine years with Strider, but in 2019 his health began to fail. The gelding was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome, a condition common in older horses that causes hormonal imbalances, which affect every facet of their lives, from their hair coat quality to their hooves.

Though Cushing's disease is sometimes manageable, it is incurable. Strider developed other problems after his Cushing's diagnosis and was euthanized on Dec. 12 due to struggles with his hoof health. He was 30 years old.

Read more at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

The post Beloved Son Of Secretariat Passes At 30 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Pain Management Strategies for Laminitic Horses: Different Solutions For Different Causes

Very few equine conditions can be as debilitating as laminitis, which can be triggered by a variety of events or occur on its own. Laminitis occurs when the laminae, a set of finger-like structures which support the coffin bone and hold it in place in the hoof capsule, become inflamed. This inflammation is incredibly painful and can be catastrophic for the horse's athletic career.

Many horses that develop laminitis are not euthanized because of the changes to the laminae, but because of the uncontrollable pain the condition brings on. A virtual session of the 2020 American Association of Equine Practitioners annual convention summarized the current research on the best way to manage pain in different types of laminitis cases.

The pain a laminitic horse feels is multidimensional. It can be brought on by pressure within the hoof capsule, inflammation of the laminae, tearing of soft tissues, a reduction of blood supply to the hoof, contact between the coffin bone and the sole of the hoof, and neuropathic pain.

Dr. Katherine Ellis of Gail Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado State University, explained several different strategies for different causes of laminitis. Phenylbutazone (bute) is commonly given to treat laminitis, but that other drugs, including as flunixin, ketoprofen or firocoxib, may be better at controlling laminitic pain.

Ellis stressed that if an NSAID doesn't seem to be providing pain relief to a laminitic horse, another should be considered. A horse that has developed laminitis from overindulging in grain would benefit from having his hooves submerged ice water. This will be helpful for controlling pain and limiting injury. Ideally, the hooves would be submerged constantly for 48 to 72 hours, though this is a labor-intense endeavor.

Metabolic issues like equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and Cushing's disease can put a horse at risk for chronic laminitis. Gabapentin has been shown to be an effective pain medication for horses with chronic laminitis, but higher doses of pain medications may be necessary to provide relief.

Ellis noted that acupuncture and use of a TENS unit may offer some additional pain relief. Chiropractic work and massage may offer respite from body pain brought on by the laminitic stance.

A horse that has an injury to a leg may develop supporting limb laminitis. Ellis suggests using morphine and butorphanol blocks and fentanyl patches to help control pain in these cases. A tramadol and ketamine infusion can also be used. Ellis notes that biologics like stem cells and platelet-rich plasma can be used for the anti-inflammatory properties.

Hoof Abscesses: A Sign Of Something More Sinister?

A horse with an abscess in his hoof can be startling to see he: He may be so painful he's loath to bear any weight on the affected limb, making horse owners fear a broken leg. One abscess can be time consuming and frustrating to heal, but a horse that develops multiple abscesses in different feet may have more going on than simply poor hoof condition.

Hoof abscesses are fluid-filled cavities under the sole or the hoof wall. They can be caused by sole bruising, puncture wounds or hoof cracks. Though some abscesses are only uncovered by the farrier during routine trimming—never causing the horse any discomfort—others are extremely painful. Abscesses can drain on their own, either down through the bottom of the hoof or up through the coronary band, or a drainage channel may have to be cut to offer the horse relief.

There are many concoctions for hoof abscesses, from veterinary-prescribed products to home remedies. Most products focus on drawing the material out of the abscess. Antibiotics are often not needed, but pain medication is essential to provide relief to the horse and prevent harm to the other hooves from bearing excess weight.

If an abscess doesn't begin to heal in a few weeks, a foreign body may be trapped inside the hoof, like a splinter or nail—or even a bone chip. A horse that is experiencing abscesses that don't heal well in multiple feet most likely has something else wrong and the abscesses are secondary.

Metabolic issues may cause a horse to have multiple of abscesses that don't heal well. Cushing's disease and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) can cause laminitis, which can predispose a horse to abscesses. A veterinarian can run bloodwork to determine if a horse has either of these conditions and if they are the cause of the abscesses. Once the underlying conditions are controlled and hoof damage is addressed, the abscesses should decrease in both frequency and severity.

Study: Four Risk Factors For Musculoskeletal Injuries In Racehorses Identified

Musculoskeletal injuries continue to plague Thoroughbred racehorses around the world, despite ongoing research into their causes. Many injuries occur during training, though many tracks report only race-day injuries.

Drs. Kylie L. Crawford, Anna Finnane, Clive Phillips, Ristan Greer, Solomon Woldeyohannes, Nigel Perkins, Lisa Kidd and Benjamin Ahern sought to determine the risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries and see if these factors were different for 2-year-old racehorses and older racehorses.

The team focused their study on Thoroughbreds training in southeast Queensland; they used injuries reported from training stables over a 56-week study. Control horses were recruited for every injury case. In total, information was gathered on 202 injured horses and 202 uninjured horses. Trainers and their staff were interviewed weekly regarding both injured and uninjured horses.

For this population of horses, the study team found four factors associated with higher odds of injury:

2-year-old horses that were prepped for racing for between 10 and 14 weeks. Increasing length of preparation was linked to higher odds for injury in all horses, but particularly in 2-year-olds. Horses not given adequate time for their tissues to repair and adapt to race training are more prone to injury.
2-year-old Thoroughbreds out of maiden mares (these horses were specifically at risk for shin soreness). They note that mares that have had multiple foals tend to have larger, heavier foals, which could be associated with bone density and ability to withstand race training.
Thoroughbreds of all ages that ran 1.5 miles to 2.3 miles at a fast gallop (faster than 34mph) in the four weeks preceding injury
3-year-olds and older horses that ran 1.9 miles to 3 miles at nearly 30 mph and faster. The scientists found that exercising a horse at a slower pace for an increasing number of days decreased the odds of injury no matter the horse's age. They reported that for horses thought to be at higher risk of injury, increasing the number of days worked at a slow pace may be more effective than completely resting the horse.

The scientists recommend that horses that fall into these categories be monitored closely for impending injury. The study team concluded that early identification of horses at increased risk, along with appropriate intervention, could significantly reduce the impact of musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses.

Read the full study here.