UF College of Veterinary Medicine
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Rescued Thoroughbred has new life, thanks to FTBOA, UF and others who cared

A Florida-bred Thoroughbred rescued in Pennsylvania arrived at the Florida division of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation farm with an unexpected airway problem due to a hole in its nasal septum, the structure that divides the cavity of the nose into two halves. Thanks to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, the farm and University of Florida veterinarians, Wild Code — a dark bay gelding — is again healthy and has been adopted.

“This horse came in from a racetrack. The complaint was that he was making a lot of noise when he breathed,” said Michael Porter, D.V.M., director of the UF Veterinary Medical Center's Mobile Equine Diagnostic Service.

Porter makes weekly trips to the retirement foundation's farm in Ocala , where he helps troubleshoot problems with horses. The Florida division of the national nonprofit charitable organization provides a home for Thoroughbreds that have been retired from racing. The horses are retrained and prepared for adoption with assistance from inmates from Florida 's correctional facilities who participate in a program focusing on equine care technology.

Porter diagnosed the animal's problem at the farm and later shared his images with UF veterinary surgeon David Freeman, M.V.B., Ph.D., who suggested that the horse be examined at UF's Alec P. and Louise H. Courtelis Equine Hospital . Subsequently, the animal underwent successful surgery July 19 to remove his septum. Instead of two nasal passages, Wild Code now has one large nasal passage, which allows him to breathe comfortably and quietly.

Nancy Chaffey, administrative assistant for Richard E. Hancock, FTBOA executive vice president and a member of the retirement farm's board of directors, received a call from Diana Baker from the National TRF office about Wild Code. Chaffey relayed Baker's message to Hancock, who then contacted John Evans, the Florida division's manager and an instructor of equine care technology at Lowell Correctional Institute. Hancock and Evans made the decision to bring the horse to Ocala , a trip made possible with the generous assistance of Brook Ledge Horse Transportation.

Evans said Wild Code was a young horse, but because of the defect in his nasal septum, he stood with his head down in order to breathe.

Meanwhile, Chaffey told her daughter, Eran Murray, who operates a small boarding facility for hunter-jumper horses in Pennsylvania , about the situation. After Wild Code recovered, Murray 's application for adoption was submitted and approved. “We weren't sure if we were going to get him or not, or if he would even be able to receive the surgery,” Murray said. “But he came through it with flying colors”.

Murray said Wild Code “looks really nice under saddle.”

“I'm hoping that eventually I can do some low-level eventing with him, so the dressage training is a first step,” she said. “He makes a little bit of noise, but not much. He's a nice mover and fun to ride. I really appreciate that they were able to do what they did for him at UF.”

According to Chaffey, everything worked out beautifully.

“My daughter says he's the smartest horse at her farm and she's absolutely crazy about him,” Chaffey said.

FTBOA's Hancock added that the Florida retirement farm “greatly appreciates all of the help” that it received from UF's veterinarians on behalf of Wild Code and other retired racehorses.

MEDS began its relationship with the Florida division of TRF's farm last fall after Hancock and Eleanor Green, D.V.M., chairwoman of the department of large animal clinical sciences and chief of staff of its large animal hospital, decided the arrangement would be mutually beneficial.

“It's a good feeling to go down there, and our veterinary students are able to see young race horses with injuries that are classic for those types of performance animals,” Porter said.

Added Green, who also sits on the retirement farm's board of directors, said Wild Code is a single example of what the TRF, its Florida division, the FTBOA and those interested in the Thoroughbred racehorse had in mind when Thoroughbred retirement facilities were built.

“While on the surface this may seem to be a single horse which benefited from a seemingly simple process, there is much more behind the scenes involving effective collaborations among many who care about the horse,” Green said, adding that the TRF and its Florida division are effective because of the strong support they receive from the FTBOA and other contributing individuals and organizations.