Re: Bucky.. The Wonder Horse Returns

["Dyane Smith" <sunibey@sisqtel.net>]

Susan,

Thanks for sharing Bucky's experiences with us.  It's an important lesson
for all of us, not just your husband.  Seems like the mistakes are always
the best teachers--sure have been for me.
Dyane
N. Ca



----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Swope-Attardi <Nagzarus@worldnet.att.net>
To: RideCamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 1999 10:32 AM
Subject: RC: Bucky.. The Wonder Horse Returns


> A couple of people have inquired privately about my husband's horse, Bucky
> since my rather embarrassing "accidental posting" on Ridecamp yesterday,
> which was to have been private.  I'm told I owe Ridecamp an update on his
> condition ;)  So many Ridecampers were so kind to us after the incident,
> offering lots of advice and moral support.
>
> For those of you who are new to Ridecamp, or did not follow the thread, my
> husband's horse, Bucky, had complete metabolic failure following a very
hot
> and humid ride last July 3.  Please note, however, that this horse was not
> overridden (finished somewhere around last, if not last!), drank like a
fish
> on the trail all day and was passed through on all vet checks with A's and
> B's.  My husband, a novice horseman, now acknowledges that there were
> "signs" that perhaps the horse was not "right" before he went back out on
> the trail on that last loop (didn't eat during second hold, lethargic,
laid
> down to "rest" in the paddock).  He also now knows now that he as the
rider
> has a responsibility to watch for signs only he might recognize and that
may
> not necessarily be seen by a vet at a check.
>
> Bucky went down not long after completing, his heart stopped twice, and
> treatment there on the spot was dramatic, frantic and as complete as any
> could be in such a situation.  Endurance riders, vets, spouses and even
> weekend pleasure riders came from all directions to assist.   Thanks to
> that, and the excellent care he then received at the University of
Illinois
> at Champaign, Bucky has returned from his "near-death" experience
unscathed
> and with no residual effects/damage of any kind.  It really is a miracle.
> They were given the green light by the vets at U of I to return to 25's
only
> when the weather cooled and in the last four weeks, they have completed
two
> 25's with great success.  Bucky is back, but things will never be quite
the
> same for the two.  While we've been told by experienced endurance riders
and
> vets that this can happen to any horse, at any time, with no apparent
> explanation, it was still a painful lesson.  Moral of their story... don't
> lay the entire responsibility of your horse's well-being on a five minute
> check by the vets.  The vets do a fine job, in most cases, for the time
they
> are given, but conditions can change rapidly.   Know your horse and don't
be
> afraid to pull yourself even if the vets have said you can go on.
>
> Again, thanks to all for the moral support.  It has meant so much to all
of
> us.
>
> Susan Swope-Attardi
> AERC Southeast Region
> Kentucky
>
>
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