This year at Fauresmith proved to be a very competitive year, with the race beginning in extremely cold and ice rain conditions; like the “Fauresmith of old”, according to some of our veteran competitors! Here then some feedback on the health status of the horses that took part.

Notable differences

An increase in muscular lameness due to gluteal spasms, was the major challenge in 2008, while a pleasing decrease was seen in tendon injuries. The tendency for tendon injuries to double every year, seems to have stopped. One horse fractured its cannon bone and was referred for specialist surgery. By all accounts the operation was a success.

Metabolically, not one exhausted horse syndrome (over-tired, over-heated and dehydrated) horse was treated. This is a huge feather in the cap to both riders and especially to the line vets for their careful monitoring of the competitors.

Most notable was a definite decrease in Monday Morning Disease, despite the severe cold. Riders seemed to have warmed up well, didn’t ride too fast, and controlled the diet more carefully.

The potassium overdose

An interesting case was hyperkalaemia (raised blood potassium) in one of the competing horses. The horse presented at the end of the first day with mild tremors, and rhythmic contractions of the shoulder muscles – almost like a “thumps”, but only of the shoulder muscles.

A blood profile was immediately run on the Idexx Vetscan machine (kindly sponsored by Johan Muller) and it showed the blood potassium to be an amazing 8,2 (normal is 2,5-5,2 and tightly regulated)! The electrolyte supplement used had been bought at a tack shop. Not only was it bicarbonate based (for race horses and not endurance!) but the sodium, potassium and chloride ratios were entirely incorrect and the supplement had expired!

Potassium chloride has a higher molecular weight than sodium chloride and could thus settle out to the bottom of the ­container over a prolonged period. The symptoms stopped when the horse had drank and allowed the kidneys a chance to clear the excess potassium out of the system. This case highlights the important role of electrolyte supplementation. Using electrolytes incorrectly can be extremely harmful to any endurance horse!

Colic increase

This year saw an increase in colic, the worst being Pizazz at the last check of the first day. Thankfully the horse made a full recovery with no sign of laminitis, eye ulcers or major tissue damage which we would have expected after such a violent colic. Treatment would not have been possible without the brave assistance of Tjaart de Wet and Johann Raubenheimer.

The expected flood of Monday Morning Disease and tendon injuries did not material-ise. Congratulations to both riders and line vets for their excellent work in trying conditions!

Fauresmith ritstatistieke

Die Subaru Fauresmith 200 was vanjaar een van die mees kompeterende ritte in 'n lang tyd, volgens hoofveearts dr Henk Basson van Bethlehem. Gelukkig was daar min ernstige mediese gevalle en hy het die ruiters geluk gewens met die oordeelkundigheid wat hulle tydens die rit aan die dag gelê het.

Van die 324 perde wat vir die voorondersoek vir die veeartse aangebied is, het 312 op die eerste dag weggespring, waarvan 193 die rit suksesvol voltooi het. Gedurende die eerste dag van die rit het 34% van die perde uitgeval, op die tweede dag 24% en op die derde dag 13%.