A Racehorse Of My Own

Sorry to read this, Kathy - this thread encapsulates the ups nd downs of racehorse ownership perfectly!

Here's to a good recovery for BAY HAWK and another lucky ownership venture with his temporary 'replacement' !
 
How right you are, Songsheet. :)

The only saving grace, if you can call it that, is that having owned several horses over the last 12 years, I am (I hope) totally realistic about how many ups in this industry are usually followed by a few downs. A real bonus is having a trainer like Brendan Powell who is clearly frustrated about what has happened to BH but now we know what the problem is he will do everything he can to help. That makes such a big difference.

I now have a dilemma. Do I try the new stem cell treatments that are available or a relatively new treatment which involves something to do with pigs (?) or do I try the softly, softly old fashioned approach which means BH will be away from the track longer?

The stem cell options "evidently" means the horse stands a much better chance of a full recovery (or as much as you can with a tendon problem) and the horse is back on the track quicker.

Anyone with any opinions/advice would be much appreciated. I am going to do a little research on the internet when I get time and chat to my local vet. I cannot do anything until the middle of January so I have a couple of weeks to decide which route to go.
 
Box resting for the next two weeks jft2005, just waiting for the swelling to go down. He can do some very gentle exercise but basically he is getting lots of rest and TLC.
 
Originally posted by Kathy@Dec 22 2006, 10:02 PM
I'll tell him to wear the Santa's hat with him to Fontwell tomorrow... and take some mistletoe....
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A great result for Brendan at Fontwell today - his only runner today. A nice 14/1 winner. That result should hopefully send him a bit higher in the NH trainer's league table. B)
 
He came in with his young son, and I said how nice he looked in his Christmas hat - which he wasn't wearing, so you'll be asked about that, Kathy! Smashing win for him - the delighted owner bunged the lass a very nice Christmas cash bonus, too - I was chatting with her Mum and Dad who Brendan had kindly arranged badges for, and they'd also had a very pleasing touch on the horse! A happy result all round.
 
You're a star, Krizon. :D

I was really hoping you were going to be in attendance today as you always make the owners (and some trainers :P ) feel so very welcome.
 
HAH! I was told to 'dress for the office' today as last time, having clad myself in Michelin Man layers for the great outdoors, I was re-located to phone and photocopier duties at rollcall! Nice... so today I thought I looked a bit better scrubbed-up, and was promptly put OUTSIDE the bloody Os&Ts entrance (where the lovely Kim had a raging heater) to dish out the pre-paid badges! Amused - not!

I have to laugh. (In a cynical, snarling sorta way, though.) There we are, loads of brilliant new signage, facilities, a gleaming stable canteen - and I'm doling out the pre-paids from a cut-down race cards box with PRE-PAID BADGES scrawled in magic marker on it, balanced on a bar stool (the box, not me) - now, how professional is that?

I still got to say howdy to a number of the nice trainers, and even a few good old owners, through slightly chattering teeth. (I got to the office eventually, after the 2nd race, so it wasn't all bum-freezing.)
 
Kathy, Brian and I heard about Bay Hawk and we are both so very sorry. Our horse was injured at Wolverhampton a few years ago too - I don't like to say bad things about a track, but it does seem too tight for a lot of galloping horses.

I would look very carefully at the stem cell treatment before trying it as not that many have had that done yet. Of those who have and returned to racing I cannot find one that has won. Get the stats.

I don't know what facilities Brendan has for nursing horses or if you will want to move him. We have had very good results from the horse spas, one near Cheltenham is excellent. They patched up two Hughie Morrison horses, Alcazar and Tom Paddington who were both bad. Tommy was recommended destroyed - and he raced and won again. Alcazar won a Group 1. If you do not know about them send me an email and I will dig out details for you. It's not cheap, but is about the same as being in training. I also know that John Best's wife does the same rehab, might be nearer you ? We had two of the Wavertree horses there and she is wonderful.

Be careful to make sure you do give him enough time, as I mentioned when you first bought him, his half brother had same problem and the owner did not let it heal before racing too soon - and he has never been the same having won a race by 15 lengths before the injury.

On the plus side, their dam was still winning on the flat when she was 7, so the family carries on and improve with age. His dam is well bred, from an old Irish family.

Bad luck - but he is a sweetie and I know he will be a good patient.

Let me know if we can do anything.
 
Kathy so sorry to hear. Isinglass named two prime examples for horses that made it back, but Belle did her tendon in racing, an we tried a lot with no success. Are strongly opposed firing them, and have read critical reports about stem-cell treatment (basicly saying it´s 50/50 that they make it back, rather same as with any TLC-Treatment). Great to know that Bay Hawk is in good hands, and here is me haveing all fingers crossed that he - and you- does beat some odds and he comes back !
 
Thanks Isinglass he will definitely be an excellent patient. From what Brendan was saying, he won't be sending any (many) horses to Wolverhampton in the futu re. Thanks for the information. I will be in contact.

There is a relatively new treatment available that a friends racehorse is having for exactly the same problem that BH has. I am eager to find out the results from this particular therapy. The practice, Scott Dunns is not far from me.

Thanks for your kind wishes Cat, I will keep you informed of what happens to him. Like most trainers, Brendan has his ideas and he has horses that have come back from tendon problems. It can be a bit of a lottery but rest assured I will certainly be doing my very best for Bay Hawk.
 
Yes, I have been reading up about him on the website and the treatment he received.

I am planning to do lots of research over Christmas and New Year and will probably speak to a few vets whose names I have been given.

Thanks again for all your input. It really does help! :)
 
Kathy what a complete shit.Poor lad.

we did stem cell treatment on a games pony before I left the vets - it worked really well - the pony wouldnt have been able to compete again anyway ( was on the British team) but she went from the best prospect being pasture sound ( ie - able to hobble about in a field for the rest of her days) to being able to hack out. Shed pretty much pulverised her tendons and could hardly walk - if BH is still able to excerise gently then his prospects are quite a bit brighter - i hope he recovers well, whatever treatment you decide to use for him - I did the box rest and tincture of time with Indie - she had 2 years off and ran again - it was too late when I was given her for me to give her lazer and ultrasound treatment - though in the early stages it helps enormously. I wish I could help you out more - but its 2 years since i left the vets, so my memory and nkowledge is out of date - it all improves so fast!!!

If you need a shoulder to bawl on though, feel free - I know how infuriating tendon injuries are to look after!
 
Thanks, Trudi. There is quite a lot of information on the worldwideweb but it is always useful to have first hand knowledge of the various treatments. I know none of them are 100% guaranteed to succeed and I know that the injured leg may be prone to further problems should he make a full recovery. All I can do is accept he is going to be away from the track for a while and get him the best treatment I can. Evidently, more than 30% of all racehorses in training suffer with tendon injuries during their careers which is a sad and quite shocking statistic. All we can do is hope for the best.
 
Awful news Kathy, I really feel for you, esp it happening so soon after buying the horse of your dreams

See if Brendan has a copy of the [??] December issue of The Trainer. There's a long article in there about tendon injuries by a vet specialising in them, and the various treatments... Quite a bit of research has been done comparng treatments; not very encouraging I'm afraid as it seems there is still no one treatment that can be claimed to work, in preference to another. It seems very much a lottery as to which treatment will help, and none is guaranteed to do so. What is certain though is that NO TREATMENT is the worst possible option as the tendon just kinds of 'eats itself'.

If you can't find a copy of the article pm me, and I'll get the issue from a friend and photocopy it for you. It's very useful about things like how much exercise the horse willneed etc
 
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