{"id":18539,"date":"2019-09-10T13:45:11","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T13:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/?p=18539"},"modified":"2022-02-18T21:18:39","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T21:18:39","slug":"cornell-veterinarians-help-horse-rider-return-to-ring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarypractice.com\/equine-medicine\/cornell-veterinarians-help-horse-rider-return-to-ring\/","title":{"rendered":"Cornell Veterinarians Help Horse, Rider Return to Ring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ithaca, N.Y.<\/em> \u2014 When Wrangler, an 11-year-old quarter horse gelding, bolted at a horse show in 2018, owner Anjanette Nicolazzo knew something was amiss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was baffled,\u201d Nicolazzo said. \u201cI had ridden him for eight months prior to this, and he had never done anything of the sort. I knew his bolting was a cry for help because it was so out of character for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, this smart, show-winning horse had been hiding a painful condition known as \u201ckissing spine\u201d \u2014 a condition in which the vertebrae touch or grind against each other. Eventually, a trip to Cornell University Hospital for Animals’ equine hospital\u00a0led to a diagnosis, and relief for horse and rider.<\/p>\n

\"Nicolazzo<\/p>\n

Prior to the show, Wrangler showed other signs of discomfort \u2014 acting sensitive around his girth and flank area, pawing holes in his stall floor and refusing to back up. Nicolazzo initially suspected stomach ulcers but wanted to find out for sure. Her local veterinarian in Springville, New York, referred her to the Cornell animal hospital for an evaluation and a gastroscopy \u2014 an evaluation of the stomach with a flexible camera.<\/p>\n

Wrangler was first evaluated by the Large Animal Internal Medicine specialty service, but when the stomach scope did not show any evidence of ulcers, Cornell clinicians took a team-based approach to helping find a cause for Wrangler\u2019s discomfort.<\/p>\n

Dr. Elaine Claffey, a surgeon with Cornell\u2019s Equine Hospital<\/a>, and Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists<\/a> in Elmont, New York, saw Wrangler for an orthopedic exam to look for any lameness or pain associated with his muscles or bones.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese cases of behavioral problems or poor performance can be tricky to sort out,\u201d Claffey said. \u201cFortunately at Cornell we have the strength of multiple different specialty disciplines, so we can work together to solve the problem from many different angles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wrangler wasn\u2019t lame but had back pain when he was evaluated by Claffey. Cornell\u2019s Diagnostic Imaging service was called on to acquire high-definition X-rays of Wrangler\u2019s back vertebrae.<\/p>\n

The X-rays revealed that 11 of Wrangler\u2019s vertebrae suffered from kissing spine; four were so severe, they had fused together. It was one of the worst cases Claffey had ever seen.<\/p>\n

\"wrangler<\/p>\n

Nicolazzo began giving Wrangler back injections to alleviate his pain, but after a week, Nicolazzo knew surgery was the answer.<\/p>\n

Claffey performed the complicated, four-hour-long surgery with colleagues Dr. Jackie Hill and\u00a0Dr. Norm Ducharme. Using X-ray guidance, the team cut parts of the vertebrae that were touching to provide more space for comfortable movement.<\/p>\n

Following surgery, Wrangler had a yearlong recovery period. Nicolazzo decided to spend between two and three months on each stage of his rehabilitation, slowly working on building the horse\u2019s muscles, strength and endurance before finally putting him under saddle again.<\/p>\n

\"wrangler<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first day I decided to ride him, he walked around like nothing had happened over the last year \u2014 he didn\u2019t skip a beat,\u201d says Nicolazzo. \u201cMy heart was so full. It was one of the best feelings and days I have ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nicolazzo and Wrangler returned to Cornell for a recheck orthopedic exam roughly 10 months after the surgery. Wrangler\u2019s incision had healed perfectly, and he had no signs of pain through the area that was treated surgically.<\/p>\n

Approximately a year after his surgery, Wrangler and Nicolazzo were back in the show ring. The duo competed at the 2018 all-American Quarter Horse congress in Columbus, Ohio, winning the championship in the hunter under saddle division and placing in the Top 10 in all other divisions. But just being back together as a team after such an ordeal is enough for Nicolazzo.<\/p>\n

\"Wrangler<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe I\u2019ve been gifted such an incredible horse \u2014 with such a will to win and survive. I learned so much about myself during this process. I learned what the true meaning of dedication was, perseverance, how to keep going when the going gets tough, commitment, true love. Once you start you can\u2019t give up, because one thing I know for sure, this horse never gave up on me. Having him at shows in general, win or lose, we\u2019ve won,\u201d Nicolazzo said. \u201cI will forever be indebted to the Cornell team for literally saving my horse\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n