Vet Explains What Happened To Theodore O’Connor

Vet Explains What Happened To Theodore O’Connor

Renowned veterinarian Kent Allen DVM, who attended to the devastating injuries of international event pony Theodore O’Connor yesterday morning, explained what happened and why he had to be euthanized.

Allen, who practices near the Middleburg, Va. base of Team O’Connor and is a long-time friend and veterinarian, shared the story with thehorse.com. Here’s what he said.

"Karen and David (O'Connor) would have done anything to let this little guy have a shot."

Allen described the accident as “a freak thing” and said, "The right thing to do was euthanize him."

"He spooked at something while being ridden and bolted," Allen said.

"The rider came off and the horse ran toward the barn. He got into a freak accident and slid into the side of the barn and lacerated his right hind leg about 4 inches above the fetlock on the back of the leg. It looked like a knife cut it; he severed the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, ligaments, cut both branches of the arterial blood supply, and nerves. My experience with injuries like this are that the chances of reattaching the vascular supply and nerve supply and reattaching the tendons and ligaments is almost zero The horse was remarkably calm and let me examine him completely,” Allen noted.

"Realistically, there was nothing we could do," he said. Allen said two other veterinarians were there, and agreed with the decision to euthanize the pony.

Loss of Theodore O'Connor

What a sad loss for the O'Connors, eventing and the horse world in general. My thoughts are with Karen and David.

May 28, 2008
Statement from Karen and David O’Connor regarding Theodore O'Connor:

It is with great sadness that we must announce Theodore O'Connor - "Teddy" - was humanely euthanized today, May 28, 2008, after an injury sustained in an accident at the O'Connor farm.

The injury consisted of a severe laceration to the hind leg which severed tendons and ligaments alike, and was a direct result from Teddy slipping after he spooked and bolted. Our staff attended to his needs, and Dr. A Kent Allen was there to exam the horse before it was determined that the injury was irrecoverable and impairing to Teddy's quality of life. This is a devastating loss for O'Connor Equestrian, and we appreciate all the prayers, support, thoughts, and sympathy during this difficult time.

Condolences may be sent to Karen and David O'Connor, Teddy's groom Max Corcoran, his breeder P.Wynn Norman, and the rest of his owners in the Theodore O'Connor Syndicate via email at teddy@oconnoreventteam.com.

Congress Joins Horse Racing Debate

I've been struggling with keeping my opinions out of the whole horse racing issue. The Eight Bells tragedy is still fresh in my mind and I hope she wasn't lost for naught. For now, I'll still to posting news stories as they develop.

Congress joins debate on racing, thoroughbred troubles
House panel to study drugs, breakdowns and breeding
By Andrew Wolfson • awolfson@courier-journal.com • May 24, 2008

First, it was steroids in baseball. Now Congress is turning its attention to the horse racing business.
Citing concerns that "leading officials in the sport" have failed to address longstanding concerns over the welfare of thoroughbred racehorses, a House panel has demanded that state racing commissions provide information on breakdowns, drug use and breeding.
Saying the public demise of Eight Belles in this year's Kentucky Derby shows that the "thoroughbred breed has become increasingly fragile," the leaders of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection say they want answers by June 2.
The panel expects to hold a hearing sometime next month on the state of horse racing in the United States, said Kristin Walker, press secretary to U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, its ranking minority member. Whitfield and subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush, D-Chicago, made their demands in a letter sent this week to the Lexington-based Association of Racing Commissioners International, which represents 44 jurisdictions.

They ask the organization to identify by name every trainer who has been sanctioned for medication infractions during the past five years and for a list of the nature and severity of the injuries of every horse over that period.

They also ask if the racing commissioners would favor a comprehensive tracking system for track-related thoroughbred injuries and if they would support a central national body to govern horse racing, such as the one in the United Kingdom.

The letter does not reveal how the information will be used, but it does say that "we believe Congressional oversight should play a role in determining whether the special status of the sport under federal law is still warranted."

In 1978, Congress enacted the Interstate Horseracing Act, allowing racetracks to televise their races to off-track locations for wagering, then amended it in 2002 to allow wagering at home over the phone and Internet.

Alex Waldrop, chief executive of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, said yesterday that the "health and safety of our horses is a top priority for the thoroughbred racing industry, and we do appreciate Congressmen Rush's and Whitfield's interest in our sport."

He said he believes the commissioners' group will cooperate fully with the request. Waldrop said the NTRA supports an injury-reporting system but opposes a federal racing commission because there are already groups like his own and the commissioners' association to promote uniform regulations nationally.

"We believe that states are the right places to govern these issues," he said.
Waldrop testified before the subcommittee in February, when it examined how drug use in various sports, including horse racing, was affecting safety and the integrity of competition.
The congressmen's letter says that "many, if not most, racing experts believe that the thoroughbred breed has become increasingly ... incapable of withstanding ... the rigors of dirt racing on the track."

It cites charges that breeders are "biologically engineering horses to run very fast at a very early stage in their lives at the expense of long-term durability," and the use of race-day medications that allow unsound horses to compete and pass on their genetic infirmities to their offspring.
Officials with the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, Racing Commissioners International and Churchill Downs could not be reached for comment.

Hanover Shoe Farms/Gettysburg

I am glad that we decided to make this trip. The seminar was great and I got to drool over some of Hanover Shoe Farm's best yearlings. We also got to see the Panderosaa and No Pan Intended. Their facilities are absolutely amazing. I learned a lot and I even got to chat with a fellow color genetics freak from the USTA :) We also made a stop over in Gettysburg and Harrisburg so some of those pics are tossed in here too.



Hanover Shoe Farm/Gettysburg

Horsez for PS2

This review is for the video game Horsez for Playstation 2. I can honestly say that this is the best horsey video game I have ever played. Most horse games are far too childish and easy. This game presented a real challenge. The complicated story line requires the player to actually think their ways out of predicaments. You are responsible for your own training and the care of your horse. Your character is at an equestrian boarding school where you take lessons in everything from show jumping to horse body language. They even turn cleaning hooves into a challenging game. The graphics are great as well. Definately deserves four horse shoes!

Hambletonian

This was another weekend at the Meadowlands for me. I was a little disappointed that Pampered Princess didn't beat out the boys but it was an excellent race as always.



Hambletonian 2007

Hambletonian Festival

This weekend was the Hambletonian Festival and we had a blast. It started with the parade in Rutherford,NJ. Silly me only took pictures of the horses :) You can see them in the slideshow below. I loved seeing so many different horses in one place. With the exception of the lady standing next to me who thought braided manes and tails were cruel, the crowd was great. After the parade we were able to get autographs of harness racing drivers and trainers, including John Campbell.



Hambletonian Festival

We were completely starved and overheated so we made our way to the Rutherford Blimpie. Post time wasn't until 5:00 so we started looking for things to do. We attempted to visit Mane Connection but they were closed. It was probably for the better since I probably would have brought home a Breyer or two. It was too hot to walk anywhere so we killed the rest of the time wandering around the Garden State Mall.

We got to the Meadowlands early so we could catch the USTA youth race. The ponies and kids were so cute. We also picked up out giveaways which were pretty nice messenger bags. Not bad for a $1.00 admission. The Eliminations were great to watch and Pampered Princess is my pick to win the Hambo. It'd be great if she won too because a fillie hasn't won this race since 1996.

Hoboken Mounted Police

I've been working in Hoboken for a few months know so I thought I should post something about the city's resident equines. I'm so glad they are here and I appreciate the chance to get to see a horse every once in a while.



Hoboken Mounted Police from Brad Miller and Vimeo.

Awesome Podcast

I've recently discovered Horse Girl TV. It's an awesome podcast and definately a must see.



I'm also super excited because at the end of August I get to go see the yearlings at Hanover Shoe Farm!

R.I.P Bailey

I usually try to keep my posts light hearted but I can't today. It has been seven months from the day that my care horse, Bailey was put to sleep.
I was attending college and every equine major is assigned a horse to take care of. Right before Christmas break, the management at the barn forced me to body clip Bailey. This was despite my many complaints about his physical and mental well being. He was old, skinny, narcoleptic, lame and was terrified of clippers. Those are five very big reasons to NOT clip a horse. Because it risked getting a failing grade, I had to cave in and do it anyway.
A week later I received an email from the school's vet letting me know that Bailey had been put to sleep. Ever since then, I've been struggling with overwhelming feelings of guilt and anger. Was me clipping him the straw that broke the camels back? I'll never know but I do know that it never should have been done. I mourned him like you would a person and I still do. On the fourth of every month I am reminded of the sad horse who was in so much pain.
This one event was the impetus for me leaving that particular college. I did not want to be attached to the name of an institution that could do this to a horse. I miss the barn and riding with every fiber of my being. I still have passion and the desire to have a career with horses, I just need to find somewhere else to pursue my education.

Wachovia Classic at Beacon Hill

I was so very happy this past weekend. My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to the Wachovia Classic at Beacon Hill. It had been so long since I'd been around horses. He even let me drag him back the next day to see the Budwiser Grand Prix. I've never been to a Grand Prix before and it was amazing to see my childhood heros up close. All of the horses were amazing. Joe Fargis won with his horse Edgar. I thought it was awesome since Joe and Edgar were two of the oldest competitors there. It was great to watch such a well paired rider and horse jumping so well. On the model horse side of things, I picked up two stablemates when we stopped at Target on the way to the horse show. They didn't have a huge selection but I got the new Tennessee Walker and Andalusian. I especially love the paint job and eyes on the Andalusian. It's amazing how far the paint jobs on stablemates have come since I first started collecting. Well, this is my first blog on here. Let me know what you think of it!