A HORSE is proving that age is just a number by qualifying for a national dressage final at the grand age of 26, just months after surviving a blood clot.
Oscar received life-saving treatment from vets at Durham Equine in Spennymoor before making a dramatic comeback to seal his place at one of the UK’s biggest dressage championships.
Durham Equine vet Kyle Tindall-Read said the chestnut gelding, whose age is the equivalent of 76 in human years, became dangerously ill with lymphangitis – an inflammation of the lymphatic system – then suffered a blood clot.
He said: “To see Oscar at the grand age of 26 make a full recovery from illness and go on to thrive in a competitive environment is immensely rewarding for all of us who had the pleasure of treating him.
“He is lucky to be with us because his bout of lymphangitis was very serious, and then he developed a secondary condition where a vein in his leg became inflamed and a blood clot formed.
“If we hadn’t been able to resolve the condition, Oscar’s life may well have had to have been cut short for reasons of his own welfare. Needless to say, we are thrilled we were able to help him successfully recover.”
To shine the spotlight on older horses like Oscar, and help their owners best care for them, Durham Equine is holding a Golden Oldies month during September.
Oscar’s owner Lestryne Wheldon, from Wynyard, is backing the Golden Oldies campaign and said veteran horses have so much to offer.
She said: “Oscar is the sweetest, most affectionate horse and it has been a real pleasure to have owned him for 20 years. At the age of 26 he’s showing no signs of slowing down and still has so much to give.
“When he was ill with lymphangitis it was a really worrying time. His left hind leg swelled to the size of a tree trunk and he was in a lot of pain. I was devastated when the blood clot was diagnosed and didn’t know if he was going to recover, but the team at Durham Equine was amazing and they came out every day to care for him.”
Oscar is no stranger to health issues and has also suffered problems with his hooves.
He has a condition called navicular, has recovered from a fracture of his pedal bone and spent four weeks at Rainbow Equine Hospital in Malton, North Yorkshire after pulling off one of his horseshoes and standing on the nails.
Lestryne added: “I’m really looking forward to the dressage finals and I’m hoping there’s no drama between now and then – I think I’m going to wrap Oscar up in bubble wrap.”
The pair qualified for the Petplan Area Festival Summer Championships by winning two classes at Alnwick Ford Equestrian Centre.
They will head to Arena UK in Lincolnshire this October for the finals, and as well as contesting the Prelim dressage title will be dancing to Tina Turner hits in the Prelim dressage-to-music championship.
During September’s Golden Oldies month, Durham Equine will be celebrating all older horses, and sharing advice with owners to help their veteran horses and ponies stay healthy and happy for longer.
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