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This breaking story in Australia may be of interest.
Can you imagine the story being reported in the same way here? It strikes me as nothing more than sensationalism. The jockey didn’t admit to doing anything wrong and yet that’s how it’s reported. The Australian racing media is frighteningly pikey, isn’t it?
The following is from Nov 5.
“Luca knows the horse inside out, he knows his foibles and problems with the horse at any age,” said Terry Henderson, who manages the OTI syndicate which owns 50% of Bauer.
I assume they,ve blistered or pinfired the horse as nerve blocking or cauterizing is a phenomena unique to the Americas.
Sensationalist to the extreme.
The Melbourne Cup embroiled in one of it’s greatest controversies? Nothing’s happened yet you dimwit!
Further to the original item.
For the life of me, I can’t imagine why ultrasound treatment should be banned in the week before a horse runs.
Seems a pretty daft rule.
Further, with the paragraph headlined when not to use being the most pertinent.
SHOCKWAVE THERAPY FOR THE HORSE
by Dr. Laura HarrisShockwave therapy is a relatively new treatment option for horses. Because of its recent
emergence in equine veterinary medicine there is a lot of confusing information available
in popular magazines and on-line. How does it work? When should we use it on the
horse? When shouldn’t we use it? Is it covered by the majority of equine insurance
companies?
HOW DOES IT WORK? – THE TECHNICAL (CONFUSING) PART:
Shockwave therapy in equine medicine is not the application of electrical current or
pulses. It is the application of electrically generated acoustic (sound) waves to body
tissues. It is similar to ultrasound because shockwave equipment sends a wave-like pulse
into the tissue from a position outside the body. The energy of the acoustic (sound) wave
produced by shockwave equipment is approximately 100 times higher than the energy of
the acoustic (sound) wave produced by diagnostic ultrasound units used in equine
veterinary medicine. While the acoustic (sound) wave produced by diagnostic ultrasound
equipment does not distort body tissue as it enters, travels through, and then rebounds
back out of the body tissues to be picked up by the ultrasound probe; the higher energy
acoustic (sound) wave produced by equine shockwave equipment does distort the denser
body tissues upon initial contact and again at rebound. The "shockwave" wave or pulse
compresses denser body tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and bone on its initial
journey into the body and then as the "shockwave" wave or pulse recedes these denser
body tissues rebound and expand at the cellular level. So, while ultrasound waves
rebound without tissue distortion and provide the viewer with a computer generated
visual image of body tissues, "shockwave" waves do distort the denser body tissues and
thereby essentially "massage" the denser body tissues at the cellular level.
This micro-manipulation of the denser body tissues such as ligaments, tendons and bone
by the shockwave acoustic (sound) wave stimulates neovascularization (growth of new
blood vessels in tissue) and the production of fibroblasts and osteons (cells that heal
tendon, ligament and bone). The cellular "deep tissue massage" produced by shockwave
therapy also appears to provide some degree of analgesia (pain control), improve healing
rates in skin wounds, and produce improvement in infected injury sites.
WHEN SHOULD WE USE SHOCKWAVE THERAPY? :
The list of equine injuries that can be treated using shockwave therapy is extensive.
Injuries in the equine lower leg including suspensory ligament damage, bowed tendons,
bucked shins, osslets, "splints", splint bone fractures, navicular syndrome, ringbone, and
various arthritic conditions of the knee and hock respond well to shockwave therapy.
Muscle strains and soreness (primarily muscles of the shoulder area, back and hip)
whether from athletic injury or poorly fitted tack respond well to shockwave therapy.
Shockwave therapy compliments other treatment methods including massage, physical
therapy, acupuncture, aquatherapy, swimming and surgery. It can improve circulation to
damaged tissue, making medications more available to the site of injury. Additionally,
shockwave treatment can be used to shorten convalescent time after surgery.
Because the use of shockwave equipment in equine medicine is developing rapidly
additional applications will emerge over time. And, contraindications for the use of
shockwave therapy will also become evident.
WHEN SHOULDN’T WE USE SHOCKWAVE THERAPY?
Care must be taken to avoid directing the shockwave probe toward large, thick-walled
vessels, air-filled structures like the brain and the lungs, large peripheral nerves and the
brain. Damage can results due to the manner in which the acoustic waves of shockwave
therapy impact these specific tissues and the tissues the border them.
Additionally, due to the localized reduction of pain perception that can follow shockwave
therapy, it is important not to over work the horse and re-injure the treated area. Horses
should not return to full work for as much as three to four days post-treatment. This pain
reduction phenomenon is significant enough that the FEI and the various racing
commissions have established waiting periods between shockwave therapy sessions and
return to competition.
FINANCES – THE BOTTOM LINE
Shockwave equipment is relatively expensive and the probes that produce the acoustic
waves have a finite lifespan before replacement. Most sites require between 500 and
1000 pulses (waves) per treatment session and between two and three sessions at ten to
twenty-one day intervals. Based on an average billing structure nationwide, most
veterinarians charge about 0.30 to 0.40 per pulse or $300 to $400 per thousand pulse
session. Some horses require tranquilization.
The VersaTron system manufactured by Saunawave ( http://www.saunawave.com ) is currently
the only electro-hydraulic shockwave equipment designed specifically for use in the
equine industry. It is the equipment currently in use at the majority of university level
research facilities. Consequently, treatment with VersaTron equipment is the most likely
method to be subsidized by the major equine surgical medical insurance providers.
IN CONCLUSION
Shockwave therapy is an exciting, emerging treatment modality in the equine industry.
When utilized to enhance healing in the horse it is an effective, low risk, non-invasive
treatment option alone or in conjunction with other treatment methods.The rule was introduced in 2004 :
AR.64H. A horse that has been subjected to any form of shock wave therapy shall be ineligible to race or take part in any trial in the seven days following such treatment.
Barred due to the possibility of a horse racing while experiencing post-treatment analgesia.
If its against the rules its against the rules. If an american horse came over here and was on lasix and what not it would be thrown out. So if Luca has done something thats against their rules, he’s banged to right.
Bearing in mind that veterinary services are paid for by Racin Victoria Ltd. who subsequently bill the respective horses connections, this makes interesting reading.
‘He said he had put his faith in veterinary stewards appointed by RVL and did not check the local rules himself.’
Unfortunately the buck stops with the trainer (certainly in Australia anyway) and ignorance is no excuse.
Doesn’t reflect well on Francesca Cumani, assuming she was in charge at the time- wonder if filthy will pay the owners back their £367 grand?
This chapter cites Luca Cumani’s take on events.
I can’t see what the man has done wrong. It looks to me that RVL are the unreliable ones.
Harsh, if Bauer is disqualified; especially as he should have won, imo.
"The vet, who I must stress was a vet appointed by Racing Victoria, came in and we had a slight issue with Bauer and he recommended a treatment," Cumani told Sydney radio station 2KY.
"I said, ‘Is that OK?’, and he said, ‘Yes, that’s fine’, and I said, ‘OK, let’s go ahead’, and just treated the horse there and then on the Thursday."Cumani only has to take the vet to Court to get any prize money and costs back.
A little more background with an enquiry decision imminent.
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