True And Incredible Stories Of A Horse Vet

Chapter one ~
“My First Colic – Ever”

Some of my clients don’t realize that I am a veterinarian. They think that I just float teeth.

Do you remember 1973? Many of you reading this were not yet born. Thanks to the movies though, many now know that 1973 was the year Secretariat won the Triple Crown. Here is an interesting fact many of you don’t know.

In the annual issue of Time magazine in 2000 where they usually announce the “Man Of The Year”, the magazine decided to announce the “Event Of The Century.” (As I write this, I am getting goose bumps!). Think of ALL the events from 1900 to 1999 – World Wars, the great depression, assassinations, The Beatles, and more. You have one guess what Time Magazine listed as the NUMBER ONE EVENT OF THE CENTURY………..

Secretariat!

That same year I had quit college and landed a job in Delaware, Ohio on a Saddlebred farm. It lasted for 3 months but I learned a lot. For instance, I learned how to treat colic.

I was working outside when I heard a large explosion from inside the arena. After two or three echoing BANGS! I went to find out what was going on.

In the arena was a tall, bug eyed chestnut gelding running about the arena. The trainer was in the observation area. I was new to horses so I asked a lot of questions. “Hey, What’s up?” The trainer replied “This horse has colic.” “What’s that?” I asked. He said “He’s filled with gas and basically has a stomach ache.”

I thought to myself then watched as the horse settle down to a walk, then stop, and then paw the ground. “He seems OK to me” I said. The wise and knowing trainer, my first educator and mentor in the horse business, gave me an all knowing look and said, “No he ain’t, but he will be. Watch and learn.”

He pulled from his pocket an M-80 (a large explosive fire cracker), lit it, and threw it at the horse. KA-BOOM (echo, echo, echo). The horse, scared to death, took off, hooves going every which way, dirt flying, and yes, farting.

The trainer said with authority, “That’s how ya take care of colic in a horse!”