Olympic Cross Country day, 11 August 2008, shall certainly be remembered as a day of spectacular success, which was brought by years of in-depth preparation, planning and results, but also helped by luck. “We were lucky with the weather,†Foreign Veterinary Delegate Prof. Leo Jeffcott, who has spent three years monitoring the climatic conditions in cooperation with the Hong Kong Observatory, said. Indeed, with a temperature of around 25°C (80 °F), a cloudy sky and light rain, the weather was by no means extreme. Moreover, it remained stable throughout the morning which allowed for all the participants to compete under equal conditions. Humidity was high at around 70%.
“The horses were tired, some more than others, but all did finish well,†Prof. Jeffcott explained. All were taken to the cooling installations – cooling box and misting fans – which functioned very well. Most teams took care of their own horses but help was provided whenever necessary; it proved very efficient. At approximately 41°C, the body temperature of some of the horses was rather high upon arrival. They were monitored until it went down to 38-39°C, a proof that the cooling had worked well. Some horses needed rehydration and were administered fluids. “All went extremely well,†Prof. Jeffcott pointed out.
The only serious injury was that of Keymaster ridden by Magnus Gallerdal (SWE). Upon arrival in the cooling box, the horse seemed well. Subsequently, lameness on the right was noticed and a strained tendon was suspected. Ice and a bandage were administered. A horse ambulance was offered but Keymaster could walk by himself to the stable where the leg was X-rayed. A hairline fracture – a very small sliver or crack – on the pastern bone was diagnosed, which is not an uncommon injury at this level of competition. The horse was given painkillers and a strong bandage to support the injured leg. It will be transported to the equine clinic of the Hong Kong Jockey Club tomorrow by ambulance and an operation will be performed. In the meantime, Keymaster is comfortable and the Swedish team vet is well satisfied with the care provided. Where the riders are concerned, there were several falls, but no injuries at all have been reported.
American baseball player Vernon Louis – Lefty – Gomez once said, “I’d rather be lucky than good.†Today horsesport in Hong Kong was both.
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