Where will Malcolm be doing his rehab/rest? I’m so in love with that face and I’d love to be able to keep up with him!
[QUOTE=Appsolute;7868206]
Question - regarding “track vets” - how is soundness to race determined? Upper level eventers have to trot up in front of a jury. I am pretty sure race horses do not have to do this. And my question is why not? And what soundness checks do the horses go through before they are allowed to race?[/QUOTE]
Horses have to pass a pre-race vet exam the day that they race. I don’t remember everything and it may vary from one state to the next, but generally at minimum the vet will check the horse’s tattoo to confirm the horses identity, palpate and flex their legs, and watch them trot up and back. The vet can scratch any horse that they feel isn’t sound enough, and that happens every day. That horse goes on the vet’s list and has to have a published work before the vet before the horse is eligible to be entered to run again. Race day medications vary from one state racing commission to the next, so horses are often OK to run on certain levels of anti-inflammatories. Injuries like the pelvis are often much more difficult and obscure to detect than something like a bad knee, especially if the horse is on bute. I don’t think anyone can know what this horse looked like when he was actually racing. Maybe this is a newer injury, or recently became worsened.
I’m glad he has ended up in a good spot and I hope he heals well.
From his race record, we suspect that his pelvis was broken at Gulfstream where he stumbled out of the gate 12/8/2013. He then was given some time off and raced again under the owner and a trainer at Monmouth on 8/10/2014 and again on 8/29/2014, where he looks lame behind from the race videos.
The trainer then became the owner and the horse was trained under another trainer where he was entered at Thistledown on 10-1-2014, also clearly lame behind in the video, where he trots across the finish. 45 days later the horse was delivered to the IN auction in the morning and left a low body score, still wearing race plates. The rest… is history.
ETR - You are awesome.
As far as the asshats running and riding him when he was all messed up like that - there are really no words.
Brave horse to keep trying and not become a bad actor. Glad he’s been saved.
One suspects that he hurts so much he wasn’t interested in food.
WHERE were the track vets in all this? They aren’t supposed to clear lame horses for racing. I suppose he might have been so drugged up he appeared serviceably sound in the pre race exam. Or not, if he was obviously lame in his last races.
You might consider filing a complaint with the Ohio and New Jersey Racing Commissions.
He’s definitely a horse worth saving for a good end. Full of heart and try. He needed angels and he found them.
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7868262]
Horses have to pass a pre-race vet exam the day that they race. I don’t remember everything and it may vary from one state to the next, but generally at minimum the vet will check the horse’s tattoo to confirm the horses identity, palpate and flex their legs, and watch them trot up and back. The vet can scratch any horse that they feel isn’t sound enough, and that happens every day. That horse goes on the vet’s list and has to have a published work before the vet before the horse is eligible to be entered to run again. Race day medications vary from one state racing commission to the next, so horses are often OK to run on certain levels of anti-inflammatories. Injuries like the pelvis are often much more difficult and obscure to detect than something like a bad knee, especially if the horse is on bute. I don’t think anyone can know what this horse looked like when he was actually racing. Maybe this is a newer injury, or recently became worsened.
I’m glad he has ended up in a good spot and I hope he heals well.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the info - and it does sound like it might be hard to determine soundness on horses that are being run on pain killers (unlike FEI where nothing is allowed -especially for the trot up!)
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7868289]From his race record, we suspect that his pelvis was broken at Gulfstream where he stumbled out of the gate 12/8/2013. He then was given some time off and raced again under the owner and a trainer at Monmouth on 8/10/2014 and again on 8/29/2014, where he looks lame behind from the race videos.
The trainer then became the owner and the horse was trained under another trainer where he was entered at Thistledown on 10-1-2014, also clearly lame behind in the video, where he trots across the finish. 45 days later the horse was delivered to the IN auction in the morning and left a low body score, still wearing race plates. The rest… is history.[/QUOTE]
:no::no: Shouldn’t horses that are running races CLEARLY lame be somehow tagged for re-inspection / have to pass special measures to race again?
[QUOTE=vineyridge;7868339]One suspects that he hurts so much he wasn’t interested in food.
WHERE were the track vets in all this? They aren’t supposed to clear lame horses for racing. I suppose he might have been so drugged up he appeared serviceably sound in the pre race exam. Or not, if he was obviously lame in his last races.
You might consider filing a complaint with the Ohio and New Jersey Racing Commissions.
He’s definitely a horse worth saving for a good end. Full of heart and try. He needed angels and he found them.[/QUOTE]
Great suggestions so many people FAILED this poor horse miserably!
Yeah, I don’t remember what the race day medication schedule is, so I don’t know if the horse would/could be medicated when examined. Haven’t worked with racehorses in a while.
The race day inspections are a good idea, but lots of unsound horses find their way through. Used to work with horses that I would pray for a vet scratch that never happened. :sigh:
Broken pelvis can heal really well. I know one injured on the track who had a long second career as a mid-level eventer and dressage horse and had a good long life to age ~30. I know another who injured himself older and came back to do the 3’6" and win under saddle classes. Jingles for a great recovery for Malcolm!
This is such a sad case, you can see that underneath the lameness he’s a lovely fluid mover and would have been a really nice sporthorse. Jingles for a full recovery so he can go on to fulfill all that promise.
Crowndragon, you can access all of his race videos by his registered name and see exactly what he looked like running. He is very clearly lame and it is not a recent injury.
He was diagnosed with an ultrasound, x rays, and a pelvic exam. The rest of him is fine
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7867923]
Take a minute and think about what you do to keep your horse sound. Custom fitted and comstantly flocked saddles. Pentosan. Ice boots. Expensive shoes. Chiro. Massage.
Then realize that Malcolm has been racing for his owners on a BROKEN PELVIS for ag least 6 months. Until he couldnt do it anymore. Maybe I should have left him, but didnt someone owe him a better end after he was used up and thrown away?
He will be turned out for the next six months and then be revaluated. The vet thinks he will at least be trail riding sound.[/QUOTE]
whats also frustrating, had it been caught and treated correctly at the begining, he would likely have been fine. I had one who full recovered and ran around both UL eventing AND UL jumping. poor boy.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7868429]
Crowndragon, you can access all of his race videos by his registered name and see exactly what he looked like running. He is very clearly lame and it is not a recent injury.[/QUOTE]
I did watch his last race. It is tough to assess lameness at a gallop, but you can see he doesn’t move well behind. His connections may have been hoping he’d get claimed, or needed to run him to keep a stall. I am sure it was obvious after this that his usefulness was gone. Poor dude.
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7868499]
I did watch his last race. It is tough to assess lameness at a gallop, but you can see he doesn’t move well behind. His connections may have been hoping he’d get claimed, or needed to run him to keep a stall. I am sure it was obvious after this that his usefulness was gone. Poor dude.[/QUOTE]
In my opinion this is immoral - and something that needs to change in racing. Crap like this makes it very clear that racing is not a “sport” but a business and an industry that all too often will do whatever it takes to make a buck at the expense of the horse.
Its disgusting - the horses are innocent and get abused so someone can make a dine.
Its upsetting that no one did the right thing for this horse - before Enjoy the ride stepped in!
There is a halo waiting for you enjoytheride, what a lucky guy to have you save him from what would have undoubtably been an excruciating ride on a hell bound slaughter truck.
The world needs more people like you.
A pelvis fracture can heal very nicely. Bone is good at that.
enjoytheride, you did well to give this horse a chance to enjoy his life.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7868289]
From his race record, we suspect that his pelvis was broken at Gulfstream where he stumbled out of the gate 12/8/2013. He then was given some time off and raced again under the owner and a trainer at Monmouth on 8/10/2014 and again on 8/29/2014, where he looks lame behind from the race videos.
The trainer then became the owner and the horse was trained under another trainer where he was entered at Thistledown on 10-1-2014, also clearly lame behind in the video, where he trots across the finish. 45 days later the horse was delivered to the IN auction in the morning and left a low body score, still wearing race plates. The rest… is history.[/QUOTE]
This makes me so incredibly sad. You are a wonderful person, enjoytheride. Bless you.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7868031]
Broken pelvis for sure. The wing.[/QUOTE]
If he needs a stall, let me know. Mine who fractured his pelvis we stall rested for 4 months then I slowly legged him up.
[QUOTE=Appsolute;7868551]
In my opinion this is immoral - and something that needs to change in racing. Crap like this makes it very clear that racing is not a “sport” but a business and an industry that all too often will do whatever it takes to make a buck at the expense of the horse.
Its disgusting - the horses are innocent and get abused so someone can make a dine.
Its upsetting that no one did the right thing for this horse - before Enjoy the ride stepped in![/QUOTE]
I agree. It can be a very tough business. 
[QUOTE=Appsolute;7866237]
I don’t know what auctions you attend. But I can tell you the fairy tale “good homes” are few, and very far between at low end auctions. Hip number 74 was VERY VERY lucky.
There ARE fates worse than death you know? If an “angel” like enjoy the ride did not pick up Hip 74 his options would have would have been bleak - MUCH WORSE than humane euthanasia I promise you.
Out here - at the So Cal auctions I used to attend - a cripple horse like him, would have ended up with the meat buyer. A one way trip in a cramped cattle trailer (no they are not shipped like show horses) to a slaughter plant designed for cattle.
Here they head south much more often than north. The Mexican slaughter plants are NOT pretty - some do not even use a captive bolt - instead they opt for using a knife.
DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A HUMANE END?
IS THIS WORTH SAVING $200? (notice the low cattle walls are insufficient for horses)
Unfortunately horse slaughter on this continent is NOT handled like it is in Europe - HUMANELY (like this).
Then of course - if the horse has not been crippled on the track like this one. You might get some other “buyers” interested.
Illegal match racers LOVE a TB straight from the track. If they still have race plates - even better! They will train and race the horses on illegal desert tracks - run by Mexican drug cartels. Drugs and questionable training practices are used freely.
Once the horse is crippled from the illegal racing - it will be brought back to the auction for a meat buyer to pick up.
Or maybe the horse is not crippled but flashy? Charros LOVE hot flashy horses. So maybe that ex race horse sent auction for a “second chance” gets picked up by a charro. The horse can then learn all of the wonders of being tied to a pole and having its legs whipped till it learns to “dance”.
Worse case scenario - horse suffers excruciating pain and suffering in a slippery cattle trailer on its way to an inhumane death in Mexico - I am sure this horse is glad that its owners saved $200.
Worse case is the horse is picked up by match racers, pumped with drugs and raced until totally crippled.
Worse case is the horse ends up in the hand of abusers, who often pick up “disposable” horses at auctions.
I see none of these “worst case” situations better than saving $200.
Sending a crippled horse off to auction is NOT the right thing to do. Sure its giving the horse a “chance”. But it has a MUCH better chance of pain and suffering if the owners decide the “easy way” out - and send to auction. :no:
This is why many (west coast at least) tracks are banning owners and trainers from sending horses to auctions. Its is not a good option for the horse.[/QUOTE]
The shock value aside, this horse, in this condition would not have been worth it to anyone on a trailer to anywhere because he would likely have died. He would have gone to a feedlot. Either way his end would not have been good. And, by the way, tracks on the west coast are not banning owners from sending horses to auctions, they are there all of the time, every month, loads of them, from Washington, Oregon and California. Go look at Mike’s Auction in California. It is the economic collapse and no horror pictures in the world are going to stop this influx until the economy is changed.
