Cast!
WHILE YOUR HORSE MAY ENJOY RESTING IN HIS STALL—AND YOU MAY BE HAPPIER KNOWING HE IS “SAFE” INSIDE—THERE ARE RISKS WE SOMETIMES FAIL TO CONSIDER. ONE PROBLEM WITH KEEPING A HORSE IN A STALL IS THE CHANCE OF HIM GETTING “CAST,” TRAPPED AGAINST A WALL. USUALLY THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE HORSE IS ROLLING AND FLIPS OVER SO THAT HIS LEGS ARE UP AGAINST THEWALL AND HE IS UNABLE TO GET HIS LEGS UNDERNEATH HIS BODY TO STAND UP.
had lots of practice with one horse who always rolled after a bath and always cast herself. I got her owner to take the horse to roll in the ring first and that stopped the issue. It’s a good thing, as it can be very dangerous to the horse and people helping. Our procedure for rolling the [cast] horse over worked well with two people and a couple of ropes, but I hope I never to have to use it again.”
A
RECENT TRAGEDIES The recent death of Marilyn Little’s USEF high performance- listed four-star event partner RF Smoke on the Water, a nine- year-old Baden-Wuertemburg gelding, shocked eventing fans. Just days after a competitive fifth-place finish at the 2014 Rolex Kentucky three-day event, where he performed double clear (no jumping or time faults) rounds on cross- country and show jumping, “Smoke” was at home at Raylyn Farm in Maryland when he became cast after rolling in his freshly bedded stall. According to a press release by CeS Media & Broadcast
Services, “Though Raylyn staff and his longtime caretaker Emily Dufort were immediately in his stall to assist Smoke in righting himself, it became clear that Smoke had sustained an injury during his struggle. At the recommendation of Dr. Richard Forfa who was quickly on the scene at Raylyn to eval- uate Smoke’s condition, an emergency equine rescue service was contacted to transport Smoke to The Marion duPont
Marilyn Little and RF Smoke on the Water during their jog in- spection at the Rolex Kentucky event in April. Sadly Smoke was humanely euthanized after a casting incident a few days after placing 5th at the event.
Warmbloods Today 31
s with colic and other issues, some horses are more prone to getting cast than others. Eventer Jatha Aus- tin, who runs a barn in Shelby, North Carolina, says, “I
A Scary Situation
By Amber Heintzberger
Scott Equine Medical Center, where he has since been under the care of Dr. Martin Furr and his team. Based on examina- tions, imaging, system chemistry panels and consultations with other veterinarians, Dr. Furr suggests that Smoke had sustained undefined traumatic injury to his central nervous system while he was cast, possibly due to damage to the cer- vical or lumbar spine sustained during the ordeal.” Remembering her partner, Marilyn says (as quoted from
the press release), “The tragedy of this day for myself and all of those that have been involved with this incredible horse that touched so many with his heart and life-loving outlook is indescribable. For me, Smoke was the most elegant of part- ners, a loyal teammate and a truly wonderful friend.” Warmblood breeder Rose Sullivan, of SE Farms in New-
berg, Oregon, also experienced a tragic ending when her four-year-old Clair de LuneSE son, Cor de AmoreSE, became cast only two days after he was gelded.
Amber Heintzberger
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