Breeders Cup Tragedy: Interview with Wayne McIlwraith, AAEP "On Call" Veterinarian for ESPN

The following is part of a transcript of an interview with Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith of Colorado State University by Eric Wing of the Breeders Cup press office, in response to the breakdown and subsequent euthanasia of the 2006 European champion Thoroughbred stakes horse George Washington in the Breeders Cup Classic at New Jersey's Monmouth Park two hours ago:

ERIC WING: We are live in the interview tent right now. We have with us Dr. C. Wayne McIlwraith, the (designated) On-Call veterinarian of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. We saw George Washington was eased late in the race. Can you give us an update on what is going on with George Washington?

DR. McILWRAITH: George Washington sustained an open fracture of the cannon bone in the right front fetlock joint and disarticulated the joint at the same time and had both sesamoid fractures broken. So it was a hopeless injury as far as repair, and he has been euthanized.

ERIC WING: Is this anything that can be attributed to a sloppy racetrack or not?

DR. McILWRAITH: No. You know, there's been no comparative work done scientifically as far as the nature of the track. You know, at times, a sloppy racetrack at the end of the day, you could have some concerns, because they are running in the base; and then obviously the base is not made for them to be running on directly; like it was a very sloppy track. You know..the rest of the races have gone off well, but it's always a concern.

Q. It looked, watching the race, as a spectator, that George Washington was maybe having a little trouble negotiating the course early on. He seemed to be struggling, at least relative to the other horses. Is there any knowledge whatsoever about when during the course of the race this injury might have occurred?

DR. McILWRAITH: Well, typically these injuries occur in the last part of the race. They are more fatigued so they have got less support to the joint. And that's when the injuries normally occur. As you know, he's -- I think this is the first time he's raced on a dirt surface. And he could have had trouble with being less coordinated on that, as he's used to racing on grass; those are possibilities.

(continues)We generally consider these fractures to start as associated with earlier damage, so they can sustain a small degree of damage and then it can escalate into a fracture. So it is quite possible, especially when you have a horse that's relatively inexperienced at that surface and racing on a different surface.

We talk a lot now about investigating the cause of these fractures, minor incoordination or just not landing on the leg as exactly the same way as a horse that's completely used to that surface does.

ERIC WING: Were any of the three owners or trainer involved in the decision prior to euthanization, or is it an open-and-shut case, pardon the term.

DR. McILWRAITH: The decision was made very quickly. Aidan O'Brien was on the racetrack with the horse right after it happened and he requested euthanasia.

Q. I wish to point out, George Washington raced in the Classic at Churchill last year, but races on grass and switches to a track with a lot of water and slop, does it have any meaning, meaning is this a bad example?

DR. McILWRAITH: You mean a bad example to switch it to a sloppy track?

Q. Are you saying it's not a wise move that it should be or should not be done?

DR. McILWRAITH: No. I was being asked for sort of possibilities as to, if you can have contributing factors, and you can certainly have many contributing factors. But, no, I certainly did not imply that it's not a wise move.

ERIC WING: I don't mean to take you outside your field of expertise or your focus today, but as an onlooker and an observer, can you characterize in any way the emotions of Aiden O'Brien or the owners from where you stood?

DR. McILWRAITH: Well, we weren't there. (Dr. Bramlage) and I, we were across the racetrack. So we have no -- we weren't present for that. But I'm sure he's extremely upset about it.

ERIC WING: Doctor, as always, we appreciate your expertise and your speed in getting in here and updating us on the situation. Thank you very much.

New York Proposes Tough New Steroid Regulations for Harness and Flat Racing in State

New York may soon have one of the toughest laws in the United States on the levels of steroids allowable in racehorses. The rule was unveiled at a meeting of the state racing board yesterday.

The members of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board are interested in receiving industry comments and positions for their proposed rule change.

A rule in its conceptual form is posted on the Internet for your review.

Should you wish to comment, kindly email your responses to vdavis@racing.state.ny.us, or mail to Racing and Wagering Board, 1 Broadway Center, Suite 600, Schenectady, NY 12305-2553.

Note: It's not clear how or if this rule would affect horses presented in sales.

Click here to read the entire proposed rule.

California Fire Update: The News Keeps Coming

Ramona, California is just one of the towns affected by the raging fires in southern California. The database of Hoofcare & Lameness Magazine shows that there are 13 farriers and 3 equine practitioners who live in that one usually horse-happy town; we have 34 subscribers that I can identify as living in urban San Diego. One-quarter of our subscribers live in the state of California.

The American Farrier's Association has an update on their web site with news from a few of their members who live in the area.

National Geographic has a nice slide show of human evacuees and their animals. The photo in this post is part of that show.

Tonight I spoke with Mark Silverman DVM of San Dieguito Equine Practice; he described the scene at Del Mar racetrack as "amazing" both in terms of the volunteer spirit and the outpouring of support and supplies available to the horses encamped there--and their owners. He was treating a few minor injuries and respiratory problems but said the horses were in good shape, overall. A week from now, Dr Silverman will be in West Palm Beach, Florida to speak at the Fourth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot.

Conference Announcement and Call for Abstracts: CESMAS 2008 Will Focus on Poor Performance in Sport Horses

This just in from our enthusiastic friend in Europe; CESMAS is a fantastic meeting and, as usually, will have a unique flair. I highly recommend these meetings (and their proceedings books; each conference has a theme and the book is a treasure). Directors for the course include Hoofcare and Lameness consulting editors Hilary Clayton, Jean-Marie Denoix, and Sue Dyson.

Exclamation points in the conference announcement provided by the ever-enthusiastic Arno:

Dear friends, dear colleagues!

Besides writing hello this message suits the purpose of drawing your attention to the next CESMAS – Conference on Equine Sports Medicine and Science – that will take place on July 10 - 12, 2008 with seminars on July 9 and practical courses on July 13 in Utrecht, Netherlands! This time we will visit the home of Marianne Sloet Baroness van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan!

The focus of the keynote lectures is the poorly performing sport horse, and even more focused: “Diagnosis and treatment of the poorly performing sport horse – within 14 days of an important competition”.

We have rented a theatre in downtown Utrecht for your comfort and enjoyment. Most keynote lectures will be presented by two speakers called “actors” in a straight forward manner aiming at involving you as much as possible.

Keynote lectures already scheduled are:
• What do we know on Poor Performance of Sport Horses? Tatiana Art,
Belgium
• Could it have a cardiovascular cause? If yes: What can be done?
Gunther van Loon and Lesley Young, Belgium and UK
• Could it have a digestive cause? If yes: What can be done? Andy
Durham and Nathaniel White, UK and USA
• What to look at in the metabolism? Erik Birks, USA
• Could it have a respiratory cause? If yes: What can be done? Geoff
Lane and Marianne Sloet, UK and Netherlands
• Could it have a neurological cause? If yes: What can be done? Lutz
Goering and Barrie Grant, both USA
• Monitoring orthopaedic health in competition horses. Philippe Benoit
and Sue Dyson, France and UK
• Could it be the hoof? If yes: What can be done? Tracy Turner and a
partner not committed yet, USA
• Could it be the muscle? If yes: What can be done? José Luis López
Rivero and a partner not committed yet.

And more to come!! Thus you see, the instructors are very good and will have enough time to show all their expertise in sort of theatre plays!!

The final programme will be announced in March 2008 and mailed late March to early April 2008 to you! Please check www.cesmas.info to keep updated! And please pass on the information to others that may be interested too!

Information on Utrecht can be found under: www.utrechtstad.com, www.12utrecht.nl, www.utrechthotelservice.nl, www.utrechttoerisme.nl

The nearest airport is Schiphol, Amsterdam: www.schiphol.nl (30 to 45 minutes to Utrecht depending on the train schedule).

Those of you that may be interested in discussing your work at the meeting can submit all work on subjects related to the athletic horse until January 15, 2008 (announcement of rejection and acceptance by February 15, 2008) complying with these guidelines:
• Acceptance is based on the completeness and practical relevance of the work.
• Accepted work may be published in the book “Diagnosis and treatment of the poorly performing sport horse – CESMAS 2008” (available during the conference).
• Each abstract will be reviewed by several independent referees. Prior to review, the names of authors and affiliations are removed to ensure unbiased review.
• Work will be accepted based on abstract score and availability of time slots in the programme.
• Abstract format: Up to 1,500 words. Font Times, 12 point, 1.5 line spacing should be used throughout.The first line should list the authors; the second line their
affiliations. In the third line it should state whether the work is intended for poster or oral presentation. In the fourth line it should state whether the work may be published in the proceedings book of the conference.An abstract should have the following sections: Take home message (what is the essence of the work described), Introduction, Material and Methods, Results and Conclusions. Send by e-mail to: arnolindner@t-online.de

We look forward to receive your work!

Wish you health and fun!

Arno

Arno Lindner
Heinrich-Röttgen-Str. 20, D-52428 Jülich, Germany; Fon: 0049 2461 340 430 ; Fax 0049 2461 340 484 ; e-mail: contact@agpferd.de; Website: www.cesmas.info

Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital Will Sponsor 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky; Will Serve as Official Event Hospital

LEXINGTON, Ky— Lexington's Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital will be the Official Equine Hospital and Veterinary Partner for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, as announced today by the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc.

“We are well prepared as a hospital to meet the variety of veterinary services that these World Championship horses may need leading up to and during the 2010 Games,” said Dr. Bill Rood, Hospital Director.

Rood & Riddle is a full-service equine hospital. Spread over several acres, the hospital was established in 1986 as a referral center for horses requiring specialized medical and surgical care. Today Rood & Riddle is known and respected throughout the world for its innovative and highly skilled treatment of horses. The hospital facility offers a full range of services including surgery, internal medicine, advanced diagnostic imaging, a focused Podiatry Center and a specialized Reproductive Center.

The practice also provides ambulatory services (on-site care) for breeding farms, sport horse facilities, horse shows and events, with a variety of services, including emergency and preventative care, general reproduction, lameness, radiography, podiatry, and internal medicine.

“Our reputation stems from our unwavering commitment to quality, both in the care of horses and in our relationship with clients and community,” said Dr. Tom Riddle. “We measure our success by our clients’ success—and to work with the highest level of equine athletes as they come to compete in Lexington, Kentucky, is a landmark achievement in the history of our veterinary practice.”

“While we certainly hope that no horse will need emergency services during the Games, it is only fitting that an equine hospital with such an outstanding reputation—and a nearby location—is able to sign on as our veterinary partner," said World Games 2010 Foundation CEO Jack Kelly.

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park September 25 to October 10, 2010, are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The Games have never before been held outside of Europe; nor have all eight disciplines ever previously been held together at a single site. It is anticipated that more than 600,000 spectators will attend the 16-day competition.

Biomechanics Lab at Royal Vet College Offers Program for British Farriers

Course title: Horse biomechanics: what is in it for farriers?

When : Wednesday 12 December 2007

Course fee: £41.70 + VAT (£49.00) (approximately $100US)

This afternoon session is aimed at farriers who would like to know what is going on in equine biomechanics research and how this could be useful for their daily work.

An introductory session in the lecture theatre will give an overview horse related biomechanics research. This will be followed by practical demonstrations in the Structure and Motion Lab.

Tutors:
Chris Pardoe, Farrier, The Royal Veterinary College
Renate Weller, DVM MRCVS, Lecturer in Radiology, The Royal Veterinary College

Biomimetics Update: Would tree frogs stick to horse hooves?

Biomimetics is in the news again. The word that is kind of fun to say means "taking design ideas from nature" or mimicking things that we see work well in the natural world.

The latest hotspot in the product design world is the foot of high-climbing tree frogs, or geckos and other lizards that seems to defy gravity. If you've ever spent a lazy siesta in Mexico watching the lizards scale sun-scorched walls, you too may have marveled, "how the heck can they do that?"

A scientist named Jon Barnes at the University of Glasgow in Scotland has made a career out of studying tiny tree frogs and how they move about. Tree frogs and cricket toes contain microscopic channel patterns that prevent cracking. If an adhesive could avoid cracking, it would be reuseable.

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology have cracked the code and a new generation of adhesives called "Geckel Glue" will be announced in tomorrow's issue of the journal Science. The glue is made of gecko hairs and mussel protein fibers.

Researchers found they could increase the adhesive strength by partially filling the microchannels with fluid. The surface tension of the liquid creates a capillary effect—the ability of one substance to draw another toward it like a sponge soaking up water.

Geckos have hair? Apparently, yes, there are microscopic, spatula-tipped hairs on gecko feet. And you don't have to convince me that mussels have something special going on; no matter how hard the waves crash on the rocks around here, the mussels never budge.

And best of all, mussels cling even when submerged, and the new Geckel glue is supposed to excel in moist environments.

A new design of tire tread that biomimics tree frog feet is also in development. Maybe some plastic shoe designer is reading this...tree frog toe pads might come in handy when a horse has to climb a trail like in the Tevis Cup endurance ride in California.

Maybe Geckel Glue will even hold a shoe on...or at least put the cup holder in my car back together...but can anyone tell me the biomimetic origin of "Gorilla" Glue?

Photo links to National Geographic article on gecko and mussel adhesion.

600 Clydesdales Trample Wisconsin College Town

Not trample, exactly, but they are sure to give it a good stomp with those Scotch bottom shoes.

Yesterday was the start of the World Clydesdale Show at the Alliant Center in Madison, Wisconsin. This is the first time the show has been held in the USA. I was quite taken with this photo of one of the Budweiser Clydesdales from Thursday's Capitol Times.

Sadly, the show has already been scarred by the tragic deaths of four members of a showing family who had camped in a horse trailer to be near their horses and died of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by an unventilated space heater.

John Henry Is Dead

The legendary Thoroughbred racehorse John Henry was euthanized at the Kentucky Horse Park today at 7:00 pm, just an hour ago.

The sad but unanimous decision was reached by a team of people who knew him best. The park’s equine director, Kathy Hopkins stated, “After continued successful efforts to maintain the quality of John Henry's life, in the past 48 hours he did not respond to our medical intervention. Due to the loss of kidney function and muscle mass, his veterinarian, Dr. Mike Beyer, found it impossible to keep him properly hydrated and comfortable.

"Over the years, our goal has always been to maintain the highest quality of care and life for him," she continued, "and it became evident over the weekend that this was no longer possible. Our hearts go out to all of those who so deeply cared for John during his long and charismatic life.”

He lived 32-and-a-half years, and went peacefully to sleep surrounded by a small circle of friends who were closest to him, including his breeder, Verna Lehmann and Cathy Roby, who has been friend and caretaker to the great gelding for 16 years.

John Henry overcame numerous well-known obstacles throughout his career, and colic surgery in 2002. His talent, determination, tenacity and toughness inspired thousands of people who didn’t even see him race, but became aware of him many years after his retirement. Some of his fans visited him at least once a month from Toledo, Indianapolis, and other cities in the Midwest, while others made annual pilgrimages to his barn from California, Texas and around the world.

When it recently became public knowledge that his health was in a state of decline, many of his fans immediately came to the park to thank their beloved champion for the memories, and to whisper their personal, final farewells to the horse who inspired great respect and ardent devotion.

John Henry’s race record included more than $6.5 million in earnings, 39 wins including 30 stakes wins (16 Grade 1 stakes wins) and seven Eclipse Awards, including two Horse of the Year titles. He was the only horse to win Horse of the Year more than once in nonconsecutive years, and the oldest horse ever to win that title - at age nine. John Henry was voted Racehorse of the Decade for the 1980s, and was inducted into Racing's Hall of Fame in 1990.

Sired by Ole Bob Bowers out of Once Double, by Double Jay, John Henry was foaled on March 9, 1975 at Golden Chance Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

After having passed through several owners and trainers, John Henry finally blossomed under the careful tutelage of trainer Ron McAnally, and with his owner, Sam Rubin. McAnally, who brought out the best in the horse with “carrots, apples and love,” visited John Henry many times during the horse’s retirement and had just seen him again as recently as September. Lewis Cenicola, John Henry’s exercise rider for six years, also visited the horse in September.

Chris McCarron rode John Henry in 14 of his last races and has spent many hours with the horse during his 22 years at the park. Regarding the great horse’s passing, he observed, “What can I say about the legendary John Henry that has not already been said? John meant the world to my family and me. Everywhere he raced, his presence doubled the size of a normal race track crowd. He did so much for racing, even after he retired, that he will be impossible to replace.”

A public memorial service will be held and will be announced by the park upon completion of the arrangements.

John Henry will be buried near his paddock at the Hall of Champions. Other Thoroughbred champions buried at the park include Man o’ War, War Admiral, Forego, Bold Forbes, Allez France, Peteski and Jay Trump.

KHP Executive Drector John Nicholson concluded, “The next few days will be terribly difficult for his fans, but especially for the people here at the park who have worked with him and loved him for so long. It was our unparalleled privilege to have John Henry living at the Kentucky Horse Park for the past 22 years.”

Thanks to the Kentucky Horse Park for their prompt announcement.

Rollkur: Book Slams Overflexion

You may have heard about the debate going on in the sport horse world about the use of overflexion, hyperflexion or "rollkur" methods of training and warming up horses. Last year, the dressage world erupted when the Germans accused Dutch champion dressage rider Anky Van Gruvsnen of cruelty to her horses by training this way. (That's not Anky in the photo, by the way.)

What was first dismissed as the same old "Germans vs Dutch" arguments at the top of the dressage competitor legions segued into an argument of classical vs "modern" dressage. An FEI special forum on the subject, aided by presentations by Hoofcare and Lameness consulting editors Jean-Marie Denoix of France and Hilary Clayton of the USA was inconclusive.

The photo at the top of this page is posted on the web site of our friend Andreas Hausberger, a bereiter with the Spanish Riding School of Vienna who frequently gives clinics in the USA. The black squares over the rider's face are my addition.

This debate just won't quit; recently the Dutch trainer Coby Van Balen was secretly photographed overseeing a lunging session in which the overflexion or "bite the chest" frame seems to be imposed on the horse. The spy photos have been posted freely across the Internet and the reputation of one of the world's top trainers is being smeared.

I won't even begin to compare the European furor with everyday practices of show horses in the USA. You all know the scene over here, but the Europeans and the horse welfare scene in Europe exist in a separate reality and you can't just dismiss this.

Dutch national team farrier Rob Renirie will present a special half-day workshop on sport horses at the Laminitis Conference in Palm Beach next month; it will be intersting to hear his take on rollkur; he is the personal farrier to Anky Van Grusvnen and sees it all.


Adding more fuel to the flames is the publication of a book that will be sold through Hoofcare and Lameness Bookshop...though I wish I had a book from the other side, as well. "Tug Of War: Classical Versus Modern Dressage" is thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated by German veterinarian Gerd Heuschmann. It's one of the best treatises I have seen on functional anatomy of the dressage horse and I hope it outlives the rollkur debate!

Here's the publisher's description:
In a detailed yet comprehensible fashion, Dr. Heuschmann describes parts of the horse’s body that need to be correctly developed by the dressage rider. He then examines how they function both individually and within an anatomical system, and how various schooling techniques affect these parts for the good, or for the bad. Using vivid color illustrations of the horse’s skeletal system, ligaments, and musculature, in addition to comparative photos depicting “correct” versus “incorrect” movement—and most importantly, photos of damaging schooling methods—Dr. Heuschmann convincingly argues that the horse’’s body tells us whether our riding is truly gymnasticizing and “building the horse up, ” or simply wearing it down and tearing it apart.

DR. GERD HEUSCHMANN trained as a Bereiter (master rider) in Germany before qualifying for veterinary study at Munich University. There he specialized in equine orthopedics for two years before accepting a post as the head of the breeding department at the German FN, which he eventually left to start his own practice in Warendorf. He has been an active member of the “hyperflexion” (previously referred to as Rollkur) debate, weighing in at the 2005 USDF National Symposium and the 2006 FEI Veterinary and Dressage Committees’ Workshop.

144 pp • 6 ½ x 9 • 76 color and 5 b/w photos, 20 color illustrations • $25 plus $5 postage in USA; $12 postage outside USA.

Click here for our printable/faxable order form or call 978 281 3222 to order; email orders to tugofwarbook@hoofcare.com.