What looked to be a positive day with Tarquin at Cheltenham Racecourse unfortunately did not pan out as planned.
Tarquin settled in to the racing environment well, being relaxed in his stable and very chilled when being tacked up, he was very well behaved and looked fantastic in the parade ring. In typical Tarquin style, he danced around after jockey Mark Wall was legged up onto him and they were lead off down the walk way.

The race began and Tarquin wasn’t jumping how he should and we knew something wasn’t right. Tarquin jumped well when he was correct at a jump but when he got tight he was struggling.

Mark did the right thing and pulled him up as there was no hope he was going to catch up with the rest of the field and it was only when he pulled up that Mark realised he was lame behind and jumped off. Due to the closeness to the stands and the rest of the field were due to run by Tarquin towards the finish line, the screens were put up around him.

The Cheltenham Racecourse vets were brilliant, Tarquin was sedated near enough immediately as shock was setting in and he was in a lot of pain. The vets managed to locate the area of damage but were unsure what he had done. They strapped him up, splinted his leg and boxed him off the course into the examination veterinary stable at the yard.

Within half an hour x-rays were being taken, no fractures were seen but the damage was still unknown. His leg was bandaged for support and the decision was made that he needed to go to a local equine specialised practice. B and W Equine Veterinary Practice in Gloucester is only a 35 minute drive away from the racecourse and have one of only 3 bones scanners in the UK. We arrived with Tarquin at 10.30pm where more x-rays and MRI scans were taken.

After a lot of different scans which needed to be taken due to the x-rays finding nothing, the damage was found.  Tarquin has damaged his Medial Oblique Distal Sesamoidean Ligament, a ligament in his foot. This ligament is not a weight bearing ligament but it keeps the joint stable. The vets have said this kind of injury could have happened anywhere and at any time.

Tarquin is due to have more scans this morning.

Many Thanks

Katie B. Frisby
Point to Point and Equine Services