Conference noted::equitation

    	It was sad to hear that Secretariat was humanely put to sleep
    	yesterday.  I understood the reports to say that he had been
    	treated for the laminitus condition most of the summer. The 
    	owners determined it was no longer worth the pain and expense...
    	There was a radio interview w/the farm manager that I listened
    	to last night while I was in the barn doing chores... they said
    	the farm was closed to the public for the day.  T.V. (local
    	news) gave him a nice slot of time w/film footage.  Quite a horse
    	ole "Big Red"
    
    

    What is Laminitus? It sounds like some type of inflamation?
    		Cindy
    

    Laminitus is founder; inflamation of the area between the wall of
    the hoof and the coffin bone... I think...
    

    My 20yr old gelding foundered a couple of years ago as a result
    of pituitary problems.  Because he was in a lot of pain and there
    was a high probability that he would founder again, I had him put
    down right away.  Maybe Secretariat had other problems like that
    which would have him foundering repeatedly.
    
    My gelding's pituitary problems had been showing up for several
    years in the form of a winter coat which would not stop growing
    in the summer.  In the last couple of years, I had him I had to
    body clip him 4-5 times each summer so he could survive the heat.
    So the founder was just another complication.
    
    Diana
    

    Diana,
    
    My 20 year old also has the pituatary problem.  He too has a 
    coat that won't quit.  I, however, in my naivite thought
    that no other problems would be caused.  Is founder a common
    disease caused by these tumors?  Gee, I thought I was safe from
    worry.  He's presently still jumping his fool head off, and
    is totally sound most of the time (he is 20!).
    
    Do you know more about this?  Maybe I shouldn't worry?
    
    Dawn

   For more information on laminitis, check back issues of EQUUS.  They had
   several good articles which I read thoroughly when one of our horses got
   laminitis (fortunately we caught it in time and she had no damage what-so-
   ever).  Also there is probably another note or two on it in this file.

   The news reports I heard yesterday were kind of "watered down" for the
   general public.  It sounded like laminitis, but no details were given
   and we were wondering how he could have contracted it and why it wasn't
   caught soon enough.  Looks like some of you got better information from
   your newscasts.

   For anyone interested in seeing some great footage on Secretariat - check
   out the Jewels of the Triple Crown videotape put out by ABC Sports.  It's
   great and relatively check for a video ($19.95).  We also have a video on
   Secretariat's last race in Canada.  We're going to miss him even though
   we can see him on tape whenever we want.  I don't think I've been as
   affected by a horse's death as this except for Ruffian (sniff).

						Jan

    I know what you mean.  I'll never forget his last race and the chill
    that went through me as I watched that magnificant animal run; a lump
    came to my throat and tears in my eyes for just the thrill he gave us.
    
    I think of Ruffian too and how great she was.  I had been told by
    someone who knew both Ruffian and her owners that her injury could have
    been healed so she could've been used for broodmare purposes but not
    racing.  Does anyone know the details of her injury?
    
    Re video tape on Secretariat's races, do you know if they are at any
    video stores?
    
    Pat
    

    I remember when Ruffian had broken her leg they did set it, Twice
    I think but as soon as the sedatives started to wear off she would
    thrash and become spastic, they couldn't control her and had to 
    destroy her. Had she been a quieter animal, yes they could have 
    managed to save her life.  I'll never forget seeing the pictures, over
    and over again of that race, I was never so sick over anything in my
    life before.
    
    I too was sad to hear that Sec was put down. I never imagined he was
    19 either, boy that really makes me feel a little older. In my heart
    he will always be a 4 yr old I guess.
    
    Marianne
    

    Laminitis is an imflammation inside the hoof.  Because the outer wall
    of the hoof is solid, it is not possible for the inner hoof to expand
    outward to relieve the condition, therefore pressure is exerted
    downward.  This can cause the coffin bone to rotate out of position. 
    If the condition progresses to this stage, than it is considered
    founder.  It is possible for the coffin bone to literally rotate and
    push right through the sole of the foot.
    
    Laminitis is generally treated by removing the shoe (which relieves
    some pressure), soaking in cold water (to help relieve the
    inflammation), cutting the diet way back (too rich a diet can cause
    it), anti-inflammatory medication (such as bute).
    
    Warning signs of laminitis are soreness in the foot accompanied by
    heat.  The wall of the hoof normally should feel cool to the touch...if
    it doesn't, watch out!  Also, it usually occurs in front feet and
    usually occurs in both, not just one.
    
    It is possible to treat founder, and it is possible for the horse
    ultimately to resume normal duties.  Kathy Connelly's tb gelding,
    Puchacay, had qualified for the Olympics, then foundered.  Kathy was
    able to buy him very cheaply, rested him for a year, brought him back
    and competed Grand Prix with him for several years before he retired. 
    He died a couple of years ago (colic) at age 20 or so.  When I worked
    for Kathy, Puchacay's diet was almost entirely hay.  Very little grain,
    no supplements.
    
    For very valuable horses, there is a treatment that has brought some
    horses back from severe founder to eventing again.  A friend of mine's
    mare foundered severely (the coffin bone rotated completed through one
    front hoof, was visible through the sole of the other).  She was in
    foal at the time, so Jean didn't want to put her down.  The blacksmith (I
    forget his name) who invented the heartbar shoe treated the mare for a
    year, then our regular smith, Garth Bodkin, took over maintenance. 
    Treatment was extremely expensive and the mare spent one year in severe
    pain, but ultimately recovered.  The aim of treatment is to push the
    cofffin bone into place and regrow te hoof around it to keep it in
    place.  Treatment with heartbar shoe consists of:
    
    1.  toe resection - they cut off the outer wall from coronet band down
    of the front of the hoof (horse under anasthesia).  this relieves the
    pressure.
    
    2.  heartbar shoe is applied after careful exam and x-rays.  the shoe
    must be put on precisely.  the shoe puts gentle pressure on the coffin
    bone to begin pushing it back into place.  put on incorrectly, the shoe
    can push the coffin bone further out of place.
    
    3.  the hoof is kept packed in a sugar/betadine solution.  it is soaked
    daily, alternating epsom salt soaks with betadine soaks.
    
    4.  the horse is put on a special diet with supplements to encourage
    faster hoof growth.
    
    5.  blood analysis is done periodically (every 2 weeks?) to check for
    stress and balance diet accordingly.
    
    6.  the shoes are reset periodically, after x-rays, etc. to keep
    correct pressure on coffin bone.
    
    With special diets, etc., it takes about 8-9 months to re-grow the
    hoof, as I recall.
    
    At the time of my friend's experience, there were about 3 blacksmith's
    in the world who were capable of using the shoe correctly.  In fact, it
    was incorrect application of the shoe (without toe resection, etc.) by
    an inexperienced vet and blacksmith that caused the founder to have
    become so severe!
    
    Mary
    that caused the founder to become so severe.
    
    
    
    

    I would love to find out why Secretariat's condition became so bad that
    he had to be put down. Someone had mentioned earlier that they had been
    fighting the laminitis all summer long. From .-9 reply, it sounds like
    laminitis is treatable but very expensive. 
    
    I wonder what the full story is.
    			Cindy
    

    
    
    RE: the last few notes...
    
    	.  the information I heard regarding the fact that he had been
    	   treated 'all summer' for the condition was a radio interview I
    	   heard w/a groom from the farm.  so... maybe it's not bad info.
    	   (if it had come from a news reporter then I might wonder)
    
    	.  video - funny - I found a tape at our video store this weekend
    	   called something like "the triple crown" (don't rember exactly).
    	   BUT!  It was very interesting, and included footage of all the
    	   horses who had ever won the triple crown (there are 11).  and
    	   some history on each of them... their productivity records as
    	   breeding horses after retirement, etc.  It is narrated by one
    	   of the guys who generally does the races (forget his name -
    	   maybe Mathew McKay Smith??)...  Well, anyway, it's worth picking
    	   up.
    
    	.  I expected to find something in the Sunday sports section of the
    	   paper w/information, but didn't.  oh well.

    The Sunday NY Times sports section had a column by Penny Tweedy.  She
    had some interesting recollections.  She said that she used to think
    'we created him' but after fifteen years of trying to duplicate him,
    she realizes that it was just luck.  She made a point of saying that he
    had been well cared for by the staff of Claiborne and that when, she was
    told last week by Seth Hancock that Secretariat was in a lot of pain, 
    she agreed that it would be best to put him down.

    Hoof resection accompanied by heartbar shoes can often save a horse
    with severe founder, but not always.  Since founder can be caused by so
    many things, the cause must be eliminated.  When the cause is from too
    rich feed, stress, or whatever other external cause, it can usually be
    treated, but at quite an expense.
    
    However, founder can also be caused by something systemic, as in the
    case of my mare.  She had severe liver damage, which was causing the
    founder.  I did go the route of the hoof resection and heartbar shoes,
    but she just kept getting worse.  After consulting liver specialists
    all over the country it was strongly recommended she could never
    recover since the liver damage was so extensive, and it was their
    feeling that was the cause.
    
    Though I honestly don't know, I would suspect Secretariat probably had
    something else going on that wouldn't allow it to heal.
    
    Kathy

    To know Secretariat, is to know that decision must have been the
    hardest for them to make.  I wouldn't think anything but the best
    would have been given to a horse of that caliber.
    
    1084.7> I recall watching Ruffian on her way up to the Triple Crown,
    I always believed that she would have been an all time great if
    they could have saved her.  I remember it most because that was
    the first time I ever really got into Thoroughbred racing, she was
    it, she was going to the top!  I remember her eyes.... 1084.8> was
    right, from what I read on her, she couldn't, wouldn't be saved.
    She made me believe that she couldn't let herself be broken, she
    wouldn't have been happy as a broodmare, she loved the race! and
    the race alone!  
    
    Nancy

    Re: Ruffian
    
    I had bought a book about Ruffian and the way the book told the
    story was she had had a broken or chipped bone the year before and
    had been in a cast and stall rest for quite some time before she
    was well enough to go back to training for races.  I feel that since
    the owners knew that she had had a problem before with that leg
    and she had been in a cast and stall rest before that they (the
    owners) should have decided then to use her as a broodmare.  I thought
    they executed very poor judgement in allowing her to race again.
    
    Just my opinion:
    Sarah

    
    
    
    This is from the Blood Horse dated Oct. 14,1989.  Almost the entire
    issue is devoted to Secretariat and there is a great picture of him
    on the cover.
    
    From an interview with Penney Chenery, breeder and owner of Secretariat
    when he won the Triple Crown.  Page 5568.
    
      "Secretariat's untimely death marks the end of a wonderful dream I 
    have been privileged to love," she said. "Having this magical horse 
    who was the finest Thoroughbred performer of the last 50 years has
    given me a unique experience.  I am proud of his accomplishments as a 
    stallion and am pleased to have one of his daughters.  My family and I 
    join the many people who have been his loyal fans in great sadness at
    his loss.  He was not only a champion race horse, but a cherished 
    friend. 
    
      Alfred Vanderbilt, who is a friend, told me that he'd had a 
    telegram as a shareholder.  And then I'd talked with (Clairborne
    president) Seth Hancock two or three times this week, and he told
    methat he thought the horse had something really very seriously wrong 
    with him, more than just the laminitis.  He suspected that it was
    cancer.  Bold Ruler, his sire, died of cancer." 
    
      "He just said that this horse is just very sick, and we can't find out
    what it is.  This morning, he called and said, "I'm going to ask the 
    insurance company for permission to put him down so that he won't
    suffer."
    
    
      From page 5624.
    
      Secritariat was foaled at The Meadow, a Doswell Va. nursery established
    by Mrs. Chenery's late father, Christopher T. Chenery.  Secritariat was
    born on March 30, 1970, a date 53 years and one day after Man O' War
    was foaled in Kentucky.
    
      Secritariat wa the product of a foal-sharing arrangement between
    Chenery and Ogden Phipps, who stood Bold Ruler at Claiborne.  Chenery
    provided the mares, and Phipps provided the services of Bold Ruler. For
    the 1968 breeding season, Chenery sent Somethingroyal and another mare,
    Hasty Matilda, to be bred to Bold Ruler.  From those matings,
    Somethingroyal produced a filly, and Hasty Matilda produced a colt.  In
    1969, Somethinroyal and champion Cicada were sent to Bold Ruler.  
    Somethingroyal got in foal, but Cicada was barren for the 1970 season.
    
      At Saratoga in 1969, Mrs. Chenery and Phipps met to flip a coin to 
    determine which party received whick foals.  The winner of the flip
    automatically would have first choice of the 1969 foals--either the 
    Somethingroyal filly or the Hasty Matilda colt.  The loser would 
    receive the remaining 1969 foal and the first choice of the second pair
    of foals.  In this case, there would only be one foal, because Cicada
    was barren.
    
    Phipps won the toss and selected the 1969 Somethingroyal filly, later
    to be named The Bride.  Mrs. Tweedy then received the 1969 Hasty
    Matilda colt and with her first choice for the second year selected the
    in utero Somethingroyal foal, which was Secretariat.
    
    Sectretariat achieved his destiny at three, winning the Triple Crown
    and beating older horses in major raceson dirt and grass.  Racing in
    the 99th Kentucky Derby, Secretariat took the lead in the stretch and
    won the 10-furlong classic in 1:59 2/5, lowering Northern Dancer's 
    2:00 Derby record.  In the Preakness Stakes a fortnight later,
    Secritariat went outside the five horse field around the first turn and
    won easily in 1:54 2/5.  Secritariats's performance in the Belmont was
    the stuff of which legends are made.  He captured the 12- furlong Belmont 
    by 31 widening lengths in 2:24.  His time supassed the the previous
    Belmont record, set by Gallant Man in 1957, by 2 3/5 seconds, and his
    winning margin surpassed the 25-length record margin set by 1943 Triple
    Crown winner Count Fleet.
    
      Secritariat and Riva Ridge arrived for stud duty at Clairborne on
    Nov. 11, 1973, Secritariat taking the stall that formerly housed his
    sire, Bold Ruler.  His first crop of foals included the world's first
    seven figure sale yearling, a half-brother to major winner Dahlia which
    sold for a then-record $1.5 million at the Keenland July sale.  
    
      Secritariat sired a total of 41 stakes winner, including 1986 Horse
    of the Year Lady's Secret and other champions Risen Star, Bluebook, and
    Medaille d'Or.  
      
      Secritariat was destroyed at 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 4 at Clairborne.  The
    19-year-old stallion had contracted laminitus on Sept. 4. Post-mortem
    test confirmed laminitis was present in all four feet, but the cause of
    the laminitus was undetermined.                   
    
    Because of the overwhelming number of request to the farm concerning
    remeberances, Clairborne has announced creation of a memorial fund,
    proceeds from which will be earmarked for laminitis research.
    Contributions to the Secretariat Memorial Fund may be directed to 
    Clairborne Farm, Box 150, Paris, Ky. 40361.  The Grayson Foundation
    will handle the appropriation of the contributions.

Article 1347 of rec.equestrian
Path: shlump.nac.dec.com!decwrl!purdue!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!uwm.edu!mailrus!bbn!gateway!UKCC.BITNET!SYSMATT
From: [email protected] ("Simpson, Matt")
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Secretariat Autopsy Report
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 19 Oct 89 11:43:12 GMT
Sender: [email protected]
Organization: BBN news/mail gateway
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The results of Secretariat's autopsy were released Tuesday, and they're
not very informative. Secretariat suffered from "an undefined systemic
illness  that resulted in toxemia, with secondary kidney and liver
disease and the foot ailment laminitis. Following the initial illness,
he became stabilized for a significant period before a second systemic
episode which resulted in further kidney damage and irreversible changes
in the feet. There was appreciable coffin bone rotation from the
laminitis." Veterinarians and pathologists were unable to identify the
illness that triggered the laminitis.
Thomas Swerczek, the University of Kentucky Veterinary Science professor
who conducted the autopsy, said it is rare not to be able to determine
the cause of laminitis when examining tissue samples. "Usually we can
identify situations that cause laminitis", he said. "But his case didn't
fit into that category. There was an undefined clinical illness early on
that was causing the kidney and liver damage that led to laminitis. It
happened so long ago that there were no diagnostic lesions at the time
of the autopsy." The laminitis was diagnosed Sept. 4, but the triggering
illness might have affected him even earlier. Swerczek said "I
understand that even the previous week he showed signs of being off."
Swerczek said that his UK lab has preserved the tissue samples in case
the need is seen for further study.

    
    	Funny thing..  I was just talking to a "non-horsey" person about
    	Secretariat's death and he asked me what "Founder" was.  After
    	I explained he said he didn't understand why with a horse that
    	was worth SO MUCH (for stud) why didn't they just amputate that
    	foot/leg and give him a artificial leg/foot.  There are a number
    	of horses that do have them now...  I really didn't have an
    	answer for him as I never even thought of such a thing.  Do
    	you think that the insurance came into play?  (Maybe it wouldn't
    	"allow" such a thing?)
    
    	Susan 

re: .19

	(In addition to .20)

	 I believe  a  previous  note  mentioned  that the laminitis was
     present  in all 4 feet.  To ask a horse to learn how to deal with 1
     artificial  limb  is  hard  enough.   4  is too much.  Also, at his
     (somewhat)  advanced  age,  Secretariat was probably not a feasible
     candidate  for  surgery,  which  is  extremely  stressful even on a
     youngster. 

    I remember watching one of the races last year that had
    "horsey tidbits" thrown in every now and then.  They showed
    a famous stud (I'm sorry, I can't remember who) who had an
    artificial leg.  All he could do is stand in his stall and
    be used as stud.  He couldn't even be hand walked.  I thought
    that the owner(s) should be have been slowly tortured and then
    shot.  Still feel that way now every time I think of it.

    
    I have accepted the fact that horses, especially race horses, can
    be strictly business for some owners. This occurrs especially when
    the large consortiums buy into a race horse. It's unfortunate, and
    I think Secretariat was extremely lucky to have owners that loved
    him enough to put his quality of life before their earnings.
    
    I have heard that even though a stallion's cryogenically preserved
    sperm can be shipped around the country - even the world - in order
    to artificially inseminate mares, that once the stallion is dead
    the sperm must be destroyed, by law. Can anyone confirm this?
    
    If true, the business aspect combined with the "no posthumus
    insemination" rule are probably why the stud with the artificial
    leg is kept in his stall. We are talking millions, here...it doesn't
    excuse what people do, but it might explain it. I can't say I'd be
    "better" than that until I'm in that situation.
    
    I honestly believe the person who asked why the leg couldn't be cut
    off didn't have all the facts. A little knowlege can be a dangerous
    thing. There is a stud at the UVM Morgan farm with a fused leg. He
    shattered the canon bone; he does go out for an hour or so a day
    but doesn't move around much in his stall or paddock. Who's to say he's
    not happy? I don't know...I try to fight the tendency to "personalize"
    too much. What's happy to a horse? Some green grass? Sun? No pain?
    
    
    

    
    
    The Jockey Club requires a live cover for the foal to be eligable for
    registration.  No AI is allowed for any reason.  AQHA allows AI but
    only is the mare is inseminated within one hour of collection from the 
    stallion.  Warmbloods allow AI used with shipped seman.  I don't know
    about any of the other breeds.
    
    
    
    

     	When I spoke to this person I had heard a newscast that just
    	explained that only the right fore foot was affected and 
    	didn't mention about any other damage to the poor horse.  So
    	When I explained to him... I guess he just thought that if the
    	foot was inoperable and if they can remove it he could continue
    	to live...
                                 
    	So I think he really wasn't trying to be heart-less - just asking
    	why something like a artificial foot wasn't thought of.
    
    	This was the second newcast that I had caught... the first one
    	only stated that he was put down and gave no reason.
    
    	Susan

    I think that non-horse people have no idea of the amount of suffering 
    that is inflicted on horses that are put through these kinds of extreme
    treatments.  (Hopefully) most people understand when they are presented
    with the facts or witness the suffering.  I remember years ago when my
    1st horse was badly injured due to either neglect or mishandling by a
    barn manager, my father's initial attitude reversed after he became
    directly involved with the situation.  I am told that when he rode with 
    my horse in the trailer to New Bolton, he cried.
    
    re: .23  You and I will probably never be in the position of the
    owner's of multi-million dollar race horses because we are too
    sensitive to the amount of suffering that is frequently caused by the
    process of becoming that wealthy.
                            

    
    
    From the Blood Horse date Oct.28, 1989
    
      A lifesize sculpture of Secretariat will be executed by Jim Reno and
    placed in the visitor entrance area of the Kentucky Horse Park.  The 
    project, planned long before the recent death of the 1973 Triple Crown
    winner, will be funded by sale for $7,500 each of 100 statuettes of the
    same subject.
    
      "We have been comparing notes, and Jim has created a wonderful
    reproduction, capturing the dignity and strength of Secretariat,"
    said Mrs. Penny Tweedy, who raced the champion, at a Lexington press
    conference when the smaller version was unveiled by the Horse Park
    Foundation.
    
      Reno years ago depicted Secretariat winning the Belmont Stakes, a
    sculpture exhibited in the National Museum of Racing.  In the
    intervening 16 years, he said, he found through comparison of
    measurments that Secretariat had grown three inches in height and
    length.
    
      "Horses generally are as long as they are tall," Reno pointed out,
    and he noted one unusual aspect of Secretariat's conformation.  "They
    also are as deep from the withers to the top of the front leg as they
    are from the top of the leg to the ground.  Secretariat, however, had 
    three inches more leg length."
    
      The casting of the 100 smaller statuettes will be completed in the
    next two months, and Reno expects the large version to be finished
    within a year.
    
      

    I have been fortunate enough to own a Bold Ruler grand-daughter.  She
    is 20 years old and is the "old race horse" type.  I knew she had
    impressive relations but never realized she was related to Secretariat.
    We were going to breed her but decided to wait another year.  She has
    foal quite a few stakes winners here in California.  I also have a
    comemerative plate of Secretariat.  
    
    virginiaz