ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Prince Asheem survived colic surgery
[endurance] Prince Asheem survived colic surgery
Lari Shea (larishea@mcn.org)
Mon, 23 Oct 1995 09:54:23 -0700
>To: endurance digest
>From: larishea@mcn.org (Lari Shea)
>Subject: Prince Asheem survived colic surgery
>
>I'm very thankful to report to the many concerned and loving folks who have
inquired that Prince Asheem has survived, and is looking great, 60 days
after colic surgery. Half way through the Swanton Pacific 100 this August,
Asheem vetted through with a 48 pulse and terrific metabolics, with my 17
year old daughter, Kyala, riding him. He ate and drank voraciously, as
always. However, at about 60 miles out on the trail, he started being
happy to tag along in third position after my horse, Caradeno, and our
friend Delia on Chardonney. We were concerned. Then he started to want to
walk the uphills....not at all normal for him at this stage in a ride. We
humored him, and rode into a crossroads where Lud McCrary, husband of ride
manager, Barbara, had a water truck and a CB. When we jumped off, Asheem's
pulse was relatively normal at 60, but he did not drink. I knew this was
extremely unusual for him.
>
>Listening for gut sounds, I heard none. I asked Lud to call for help
immediately. Within seconds, Asheem wanted to go down. Kyala started
walking him, and he was quite willing to do so, even looking a bit
interested in grass intermittently. However, gut sounds were zilch, and he
looked shakey every time we let him stop walking. Pulse remained in the
60's.....not normal for this horse. I became frantic when I saw gastric
reflux drip from his nostrils. I was pretty certain we were looking at a
surgical situation.
>
>I won't go into details about how long the wait was, or about the trailer
which finally arrived with the back door fallen off, or how my daughter rode
in the back with Asheem against my wishes because that was the only way the
trailer driver would take him, but the hardest part was not going with her.
I told her to do whatever was necessary to save him. At Kyala's insistance,
Delia and I rode on.
>
>At the 70 mile vet check, I borrowed a cellular phone to try to find out
what was happening. THe nearest surgery facility had no word.....good news
for me. But I didn't want to leave the check until I knew what was
happening. My out time had long gone when Barbara, the ride manager,
arrived with the news that Kyala had taken my truck, unhitched our 6 horse
trailer, borrowed Barbara's two horse, and had driven Asheem 90 miles to
Russ Peterson's Palo Alto vet clinic for surgery. By coincidence, Russ had
been the vet to evaluate and treat Asheem at the race site, and his own
facility is set up for abdominal surgery.
>
>I jumped off Caradeno and said I was pulling to be with my daughter during
the surgery. But Barbara McCrarey and Cynthia Stroud, fellow endurance
riding mothers, berated me for lack of trust in my daughter's ability to do
what was necessary without me. Additionally, Barbara pointed out that Ky
had my truck... what did I envision doing.....hitch hiking up highway one
for 90 miles to catch up with her?
>
>Let me tell you, that was the hardest to leave vet check I've ever ridden
out of. My heart was definately not out there on the trail. Luckily for
me, Caradeno was ready to roll after nearly two hours of additional rest
while dealing with Asheem's situation. He picked up the pace, picked up my
spirits, and cantered on into the darkness.
>
>And thirty miles later, Kyala was waiting for me at the finish line,
bursting with relief to tell me that Asheem had come through the operation,
and was already on his feet. His displaced intestine was replaced. He had
a shakey few days post-surgery, but came home within the week. He's been
confined to a box stall with hand walking three times a day, but is now up
to being ponied for an hour at a time, and has a small paddock to boot. In
another month, we can ride him bareback. Within five months, the vets say
he should be a totally recovered and reconditioned horse. (Big Ben, the
CAnadian show jumping phenominon, has had multiple surgeries)
Interestingly, Asheem twisted at the North American Championships in Bamph,
Canada, two years ago, but untwisted during the three hour trailer ride to
the surgery. Some vets hypothicise that in an older horse, the liver
shrinks a bit in size, leaving room for the intestine to displace. Perhaps
Asheem's habit of eating and drinking with great gusto actually placed a
burdon on his gut during the stress of competition, although his metabolic
recoveries were exemplory both times up until the moment of "colic". I've
always thought I only had to worry if my horse DIDN'T eat and drink....now
I'm concerned if they DO!
>
>My 17 year old dressage horse, Tzar, survived a double twist surgery ten
years ago, and is stronger than ever. Asheem, however, is 15 years old at
present. I don't plan to ever compete on him again. But I'm curious, ...I
read in Endurance News that at least two other west coast endurance horses
have had colic surgery this summer. Has anyone ever brought a younger horse
back to serious endurance competitiveness after abdominal surgery?
>
>I want to thank Lud and Barbara McCrary for all the emotional and physical
assistance they gave Kyala and me during the Swanton 100. Russ Peterson's
partners and hospital were terrific. Thanks to all my fellow competitors
who bolstered my spirits during the ordeal, and the days afterwards.
>
>And thanks to Caradeno, for exciting me about the future!
>
>Lari Shea
>
Lari Shea
Ricochet Ridge Ranch
24201 N. Hwy One
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
ph707-964-7669/fax 707-964-9669