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The cause of all the concern: Bufferings n/f hoof with bruising coming out (note the discolouration)
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Story and Photos courtesy of Graham Potter and www.horseracingonly.com.au
By Robert Heathcote | Thursday, May 17, 2012
Robert Heathcote is the leading racehorse trainer in Brisbane. 'Rob's Shout' - the personal blog of the multi-premiership and Group 1 winning trainer will appear every Thursday on HRO.
It was certainly an emotional rollercoaster this past week.
The hoof problem Buffering has sustained has caused all kinds of dramas which unfortunately saw him become a scratching after being favourite for last week's Group 1, BTC Cup.
Sure, it was a bitter pill to have to swallow as I am certain he would have been right in the finish of the race, however it's not the first time a horse has been scratched just before a race with a problem and I can guarantee it will not be the last. It was just an incredible shame for the connections that it happened on such a huge occasion.
I believe we had the horse in the best condition of his life, he was coming off a dominant last start win and he was feeling and looking fantastic. So well in fact that I personally walked him to the track from home with Melissa on top on the Friday morning for his lap of pace work and when he had finished his work, I led him off the track as he get very playful as he is feeling so well. Mel said he felt great and he was spot on to win his first Group 1 race.
It was after I got back to the track that I received the phone call from Tom to say Buff had put a short step in and I had better come back to the stables and check him. Sure enough, he had a pulse in his hoof and the first squeeze with the hoof testers confirmed a problem.
Being so close to the race I knew we were in serious trouble, but we would do all we could to get him there!
My farrier and the vet were immediately called and treatment began on his injured hoof.
Buffering had sustained what we generally refer to as a 'stone bruise'. He need not necessarily stood on a stone to have sustained the injury, but more than likely he did!
Any damage to the sensitive laminae within the hoof from any form of trauma can produce some internal bleeding which ultimately can lead to the formation of an abscess. It can be very painful for the horse and usually lameness is immediately apparent as was the case with Buffering.
These problems can linger for up to two weeks or resolve themselves in a few days depending on the severity, so there were plenty of anxious moments around the stable.
I also called the Chief Steward, Wade Birch to alert him of the situation, as is my responsibility under the rules of racing, so the public could be informed!
