I live in South Fla and OTTB’s are abundant down here. I have met many many OTTB’s that now have wonderful caring homes and have great careers as trail horses, Mounted Police horses, low level hunters, pets, work cows, schooling programs, camps, etc Can great homes be found for all, probably not, alot of them do. I had one back in the 90’s that was a third level dressage horse. He’d fallen on tough times, and I rehabbed him.
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any updates on Irap after his surgery? cant seem to find anything online…
Here’s an update on Irap. https://www.paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/irap-hanging-tough-surgery-veterinarian-happy-iraps-progress/
LaurieB, thanks for posting that update.
Reading it was a bit scary. The heath “issue” rollercoaster is no fun. Saw it in my mare after colic surgery (twice in 36 hours), followed it in Barbaro and know many horse owners live through it.
Hope Irap continues with having more good days than bad until he’s healthy.
Just as an FYI his trainer Doug O’Neill’s Facebook page has more updates than other sources.
https://www.facebook.com/dougoneillracingstable/?pnref=about.overview
Emily
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Thanks! It’s also cool to see all the photos of Lava Man in his post-retirement part time job as a stable pony. Can’t believe he’s 16 now!
Oh hell, Irap is gone.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/224213/multiple-graded-stakes-winner-irap-euthanized
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Just saw that, too.
What a horrid week.
A bad week indeed.
Lousy news - very sorry to read. In a way I’m not terribly surprised - serious injury and never felt the prognosis was that great. Add the fever and infection, and the stress to his system, ugh.
Sad for Irap and his connections.
My heart also aches for Dr Richardson, New Bolton and their staff (and every other equine surgical facility). They know they can’t save them all. It must be so hard to plan the treatment and recovery strategy and then see roadblocks that pop up post surgery. Then to loose the battle despite all the best efforts.
Not to change the subject from Irap, whose loss is heartbreaking,
But will there ever be an effort to stop racing these horses at such a young age? Please don’t jump on me as I have no idea if this is feasible or not, which is why I asked.
Would racing them at 3 and up rather than 2 and up make a difference? I know it would affect the TC races as those are for 3 year olds. Is it impossible to consider based on the cost of the extra year to let them mature? And the changes to a system that is entrenched in a program to breed, back, and race by 2?
I ask because I’ve raised 2 half-thoroughbreds from weanlings and the difference in physical maturity between ages 2 and 3 was the biggest change I’ve seen. I can’t imagine asking them at 2 to do what we ask race horses to do. My one still looked like a baby at 2.
I know it seems counterintuitive but research has shown horses that get their start later on are at an increased risk flor catastrophic breakdown. Their skeleton needs that early stress to lay down sufficient calcium to remodel their bones to the point it is up to the task. That is harder to do with an older horse
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As Laurierace said… race horse statistics show more catastrophic breakdowns at 3 than at 2.
Perhaps counterintuitive but that’s what the stats show.
