how much she was hurting. Riders could see the Dutch Warmblood mare had jumping talent, but no one could figure out why she behaved so badly. War Annie (later renamed Annie Up) had impeccable breeding: Indoctro x Nimmerdor. Under saddle, however, she was a terror. Trainers had considered the seven-year-old jumper a prospect for Grand Prix, but she was abandoned as a rogue over three years ago. Among other names, she became known as “Wicked Wanda.” This expensive, imported mare was on her way to the auction ring, and a low- budget one at that. Her prospects did not look good.
A
New Hope Luckily, trainer Julie Winkel of Maplewood Stables in Reno, Nevada, stepped in. She acquired Annie Up as a broodmare prospect. Julie’s barn stands two Grand Prix jumper stallions, Osilvis (Silvio II x Nimmerdor) and Cartouche Z (Carthago Z x Le Mexico). In addition, Julie is an “R” judge with the USEF and both a certified trainer and a certified talent scout with the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association. Once she brought her home, Julie took
Annie to her veterinarian, Dr. Joseph Coli of Comstock Equine Hospital in Reno, to be examined for breeding. “I examined the horse and I suspected a problem,” says Dr. Coli. He was right—he found that Annie had a very large ovary on one side and the other one was
nnie couldn’t explain
Annie’s 180
quite small. With ultrasound, the
large ovary appeared cystic, with multiple follicles, typical of an
ovarian tumor. “We discussed what was
suspected and I advised a blood test to see if it was a granulosa cell
tumor,” he adds. The test showed elevated testosterone, which is another indication of a
tumor. Mares with this condition tend to be aggressive, with obvious personality changes. “I wanted the opportunity to have her back,” says Julie. She understood that the mare’s unusual medical issue might explain her behavioral problems and was already looking ahead to her career options if those problems could be overcome. Julie agreed to the surgery to remove the right ovary (a unilateral ovariectomy). The clinic’s surgeon, Dr. Shane Miller, performed the laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Coli explains, “There were a few stitches, on a laparoscopic portal in the flank. It was a small incision for the scope and a bigger incision to remove the ovary itself, probably six inches long. We removed only the ovary,” the doctor adds. “She spent a couple of days with us. Recovery was uneventful.” Dr. Coli didn’t notice an immediate change
in Annie’s attitude. “It took a little while,” he remarks. “Julie didn’t have to bring her back to the clinic; we checked her at the farm. And
it [removing the tumor] did ultimately change the mare’s behavior.” For Annie—and for Julie—Annie’s new attitude represented a new beginning.
All photos of Annie and Karen are at HITS Thermal in 2012 taken by Charlene Strickland. Warmbloods Today 25
B
h C y
e l r a
S en
k
c r ti
d
na l
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68