Patsy's Nightmare is a filly I bought for $400 with a one way ticket to the meat buyers trainer at Mountaineer Park. A friend had been told by her owner that they needed to sell her ASAP as the Husband/trainer had given up on her. I went to the track to see her and watched her go over the track and could clearly hear the breathing issue she had and then saw the aftermath of her choking...as she wheeled through the air tried to kill the rider and was in some sort of Fright and flight mode.
 

I bought her...scheduled to have her scoped at a local clinic.  What I had suspected was true ....she had what we call a bad flapper. The flapper at the back of her throat was not able to work properly and would prevent air from entering her lungs when she was under the stresses of training or racing. Her next trip was to Valley View Animal Hospital for a tie forward procedure. Basically her entire air way was lifted about 3 cm so she would properly take in air and process oxygen. The surgery seemed to be a success and after 4-6 weeks of stall rest, hand walking and very light ground driving she was cleared for an ALL AHEAD FULL to return to training. During her recoup time we also discovered a few other SOUNDNESS Issues...Right knee had carried a bit of pressure, her left stifle was not very strong and she suffered from lower back weakness. All signs of improper conditioning. 

 

Nick named Peanut by my rider Tawny Williamson, Patsy was a whopping 15.1 h (with shoes on!) was rebuilt from the ground up. She had poor hoof condition and a few abscesses, plus we had security issues to deal with. She was afraid to exert herself as she didn't want to feel her air getting shut off like she had become accustom to in the past. `When she would get to a point in her work where she would suspect this would happen she would go into an industrial strength bucking fit. I have no idea how Tawny ever stayed on her during those sessions...but she did. Riding out the violent ride only to reassure Patsy with a pat on the shoulder and a gentle firm leg to urge her to go forward. Through the next 5 months Patsy become not only a pleasure to ride but would trail ride in company and lead the way. A Major accomplishment for her! She would also condition for 60-90 minuets at a time. Building stronger throat muscles, and reconditioning her body to carry itself in a better frame to carry speedy during a race.

 

Through a lot of Dressage foundation, roundness, collection and forward impulsion, Patsy learned how to properly carry herself in a manner that was far less stressful on her body.

 

Pictured here at Turfway Park, Patsy is now with Trainer Will Hall and his wife Heather. They are very excited to see her run, she's working hard and seems to be enjoying her work for once. She's grown an inch or two since I first bought her. Confidence and security are no longer an issue for her. Her breathing has been fixed and she is now breezing 1/2 mile works out of the gate in great time.

 

Patsy's is a true testament that HPC provides rehab with results! We look forward to her racing in our Burgundy and Green silks here in the next week or 2.

This link will take you to yesterdays works at Turfway Park.  http://drf.com/workouts/17/wTP17.html.  I didn't hear from my trainers until after the works went...however.

 

Min's Amazingrace is under the weather with a minor upper respiratory infection and was not at 100%. She pulled herself up about 10 lengths from the wire and was not her usual antsy dancy self. "Very Flat and lovey dovey" is how her trainer Will Hall described her attitude prior to the work. She had no fever and thus was sent to work with jockey Julio Felix. Her work was the second fastest of the day and she is by no means a sprinter, however we will take this with our heads held high as Grace is not your usual home bred. She has proved time and time again that she has a heart of a real racehorse, and knows what it takes to gut it out and give 110% when asked!

 

Her post work exam and scope reveled mucus build up in both lungs. She has been placed on meds and breathing therapy in hopes of a race soon.

 

Four Nine Whiskey topped the works last week with the fastest work of the day for a 1/2 and bounced back with a nice 5/8th work in fine style. The 5 yr old Freud Mare is a class act! "She's always the professional, loves being a racehorse and is very good at her job." says her trainer Will Hall. Again with Julio Felix in the irons, Whiskey showed she is a battle tested beast. Not the fastest work of the day this time, but she did have great closing speed fractions and bounced back to her stall like she hadn't even worked hard. "she's very rateable, good minded and is eager to listen to her rider. I really like her a lot...very gutsy. Her closing speed is amazing." says Felix.

 

You know what they say...its not about how far you win by that matters...its all about getting to the wire first!

 

Patsy's Nightmare has been at Turfway for about 3 weeks now and has made MAJOR progress with Will and Heather Hall. The 4 yr old daughter of Tactical Cat and out of the stakes winning Smarten mare Miss Owens, Patsy has let us know she wants to be a racehorse. Bouncing back off of a bad breathing issue, which required a Tie Forward procedure to repair, Patsy is enjoying training now that she has no fear of oxygen depravation. We look to improve her form drastically! She is the kind of filly you treat with kid gloves.

 

All 3 of these horses are proof that sound rehabilitation WORKS!  All 3 have issues...some major, others minor, all managable. None the less...they will all be winners in the end.

 

More updates as they happen.

 

Come join us in the winners circle... soon!!!

 

Min's Amazing (4 y/o F Ministry/Your Turn To Deal) gallops under a February sunrise at Turfway Park