Poor St Nicholas Abbey

[Floralnomad]

Such a lovely horse ,have only just read that he's had to have more surgery today for colic following the surgery earlier in the week to try and fix his leg

Terrible thing. They have made every effort to pin his pastern but getting colic is awful. I'm off to Ascot tomorrow - where I would have expected him to win the King George - and it won't be the same without him.

Latest update is a bit more promising though - they've flown someone over from Kentucky too, so they must be a bit more hopeful. These are from the Racing Post earlier today.

Surgeons pleased with St Nic

"Dr Nathan Slovis, a medicine specialist from Hagyard Institute in Kentucky, arrived today to oversee his recovery and treatment. Surgeons are pleased with the progress made with his pastern and he is taking weight on the leg well." (2 hours ago)
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More on St Nic

"His treatment means he cannot have food for a prolonged period - this is difficult for a horse like St Nicholas Abbey who loves his food. He will get parentral nutrition instead (intravenous nutrition) to fulfill his daily requirements." (2 hours ago)
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Tweets

St Nicholas Abbey update

Coolmore ‏(@coolmorestud) tweeted: "St Nicholas Abbey has made positive progress and is in good form following surgery. The colic was caused by caecal shutdown (equivalent to the human appendix), which is an extremely painful condition." (2 hours ago)

That sounds more promising than yesterday then ,after all he's been through this week it would be so sad if he doesn't make it .

They are really trying so hard to save him they said prior orthopaedic surgery they would need some luck it hasn't gone their way so far. Please God this won't be another Barbaro situation. But they saved Mill Reef so there's always hope.

They had a lovely piece on SNA on Channel 4 yesterday, and Coolmore have released pictures of his x-rays.

Video here

Article and pictures

That's absolutely fascinating, and how lovely to see him looking so well outwardly. I know there's a long way for him to go, but all things considered it's amazing he's still standing really.

Does make you wonder how stable all that metal work will be there's so many screws through that thin little leg ,as you say its amazing that he's standing .

It's pretty much the same surgery they carried out on Barbaro. His broken limb actually healed without a problem, it was the laminitis in another hoof that did for him in the end.

I think they said in the video (if it's the same one Vhannel 4 showed) that they inserted another screw horizontally into his cannon bone to spread some of the load off of the metal plates for now.

Amazing he has come so far.But its really going to be one day at a time. (Mindful of Barbaro and the outcome there)

You can see how it's going on Coolmore's twitter page - these are the most recent posts.

Consulting USA surgeons Dr Richardson & Dr Slovis have both reassessed St Nicholas Abbey during the week and are happy with his progress.

Surgeons Dr Tom O?Brien & Dr Ger Kelly were happy with the wound and alignment of joints which are as good as can be expected at this time

St Nicholas Abbey remains in good form at Fethard Equine Hospital and recently had his fibreglass cast replaced

seen those, those x ray plates are amazing.

It said on Channel 4 Racing that he has laminitis now

Yes he has. I'm sorry to say it but this is Barbaro all over again.

Have just Googled Barbero EnlightenedOwl - indeed.

they are trying so hard to save the horse but lets be clear - this much effort and money has gone into his care and treatment because of his potential stallion value. Were SNA your ordinary riding horse, the horse would have been put to sleep immediately.
Of course they might still save him but I have a horrid feeling about this one.

And going back to SNA its a tragic thing to have happened to a brilliant horse.

It is tragic and it's almost getting to the stage where one wonders if euthanasia might have been kinder. Must be awful for a stallion of his calibre to be boxed for that long. Here's hoping he can turn a corner ... .

I think my view might not be a popular one but I think he should have been put down immediately. The initial injury was absolutely catastrophic.

Update from Coolmore - still a long way to go, but he's hanging in there....

www.coolmore.tv/farm/ireland/92

I thought he did not look good to be honest. Saddened to see him like this.

he has gone. Died as a result of a further bout of colic.
Tragic.

Yes such a shame - been chatting to his team this evening and they did everything they could be colic is a terrible thing. I'm really upset - loved that horse. Saw him win in Dubai and Breeders' Cup and had a terrific rapport with Joseph. What a sire he'd have been.

Desperately sad after all the fight he'd put up and everything he'd gone through. I do feel that they had to try though, but it just goes to show how difficult it is to deal with such injuries.

Very sad , I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but I agree with the poster who said they should have PTS originally ,hopefully lessons will be learned . Poor boy .

This is so very . Especially after the update last week or so, when it was looking more hopeful. Horrible way for such a majestic animal to end its days, but at least they tried.