This case study is the second in a series written by Welfare of the Horse Committee members designed to analyze horse fatalaties in an effort to provide recommendations that may serve to save the lives of other equine partners. While the committee agrees that horse fatalities are a complex problem with no one solution, we are dedicated to developing information that will help to educate others. The committee thanks the riders involved in these case studies, who have consented to our use of their experience as a learning tool for others.

On September 2, 2003, a group of five horses left the Houston, Texas area, traveling together in a trailer for 10 to 12 hours each day, with lengthy rest breaks. They traveled for a total of four days, arriving at Trout Lake, Washington. The trip was 2,400 miles and the climate went from very warm and humid to near freezing nights and cool days with little humidity. One horse, DJB Rockin' Adios, did not make the trip home to Texas. This is his story.

Adios was a 10-year-old Arabian gelding that had competed in endurance rides for three years with at least seven different riders. His owner and primary rider of late was a seasoned competitor with over 22,000 miles to her credit. She is known as a "tough" competitor, quite often finishing in the top five, and certainly an experienced horsewoman. Adios had finished 24 AERC rides in 28 attempts, and as of September 2003, had finished nine rides in a row, including three 100-mile courses.

Before this day, Adios had competed last on August 10 where he was second in a very difficult 50 miler. He had never failed to complete a ride due to metabolic problems, but had started and finished successfully many rides where he competed with accidental injuries, leading his rider to believe that he was extremely brave and "tough."

Adios was an alpha horse in his group at home and on the road. While in Trout Lake, he was kept in a large pen for several days within sight of his stablemates, on a mowed hay field. During this time he had access to grazing, water, and hay and was grained and electrolyted twice daily. He was ridden lightly several times in the next week.

On September 11, Adios and his group were moved up the mountain to the grassless ride venue and split up, as the horses he had traveled with were leased to different riders and were "stabled" in different areas. For the next several hours Adios paced and pawed, becoming severely agitated at being separated from his herd. A compromise was met and Adios was moved closer to the others and another horse placed in his pen for company.

According to his owner, Adios was an opinionated fellow that always showed his feelings with body language. It was not uncommon for him to paw vigorously in nervous anticipation or agitation.

The ride started at 6:00 a.m. and Adios vetted through the first check in three minutes. His gut sounds were deemed poor at the initial check, but he ate and drank throughout the check and was deemed able to return to the trail at the mandatory exit check. He was electrolyted at this stop, as well as on the trail before the check.

At vet check 2, Adios again recovered in three minutes and scored a B for gut sounds. He ate and drank, according to his rider, and was given electrolytes. Adios was observed pawing the ground at this check, and was forced to stop by a crew member who held one of his front legs off the ground.

At the next check, Adios had completed 61 miles of trail at a speed just shy of 10 miles per hour. According to his rider, he had slowed considerably a few miles before the third check, though they arrived at the stop in fourth place. He passed the vet check, but was pawing vigorously at the ground and seemed uncomfortable shortly after returning to the crew area. He drank well, but did not eat.

At 2:00 p.m., eight hours after the start of the ride, Adios was presented, untacked, for an exit exam. His CRI was "unimpressive" according to his rider, and he was retired from the race and led to the treatment area for a checkup. His rectal temperature, despite the cool weather and having been in the check for over an hour, was 102 degrees. The attending vet decided to administer water via a nasal gastric (NG) tube. Reflux (liquid coming back out of the stomach) was present at insertion of the tube and a gallon or more of fluids were pumped into Adios' stomach. The horse appeared extremely uncomfortable and when the tube was removed, he Òself-refluxed,Ó shooting water and mucus out his nose and mouth.

Adios was then refluxed using an NG tube and put on intravenous fluids and pain killers. He was released from the hospital barn at one point several hours later, when it was thought he had recovered somewhat. He returned to the venue, but did not eat well and continued to be uncomfortable. At 3:00 a.m. another reflux was done and nearly a gallon of fluid was expelled from his stomach, signaling that his gut had shut down and was not moving fluids.

Adios was referred to a surgical center located two hours from Trout Lake and arrived there at 7:30 a.m., more than 26 hours after starting the ride. He was walking, but was sweating profusely and appeared to be in shock. Ultrasound revealed a ruptured stomach. While being prepared for surgery he went down and was subsequently euthanized. Post mortem revealed a "primary gastric rupture" along the entire length of Adios' stomach with no predisposing lesions such as ulcers.

Questions to ponder:

- Did the stress of traveling from summer weather to what these horses would experience in winter contribute to Adios' death?

- Was this horse electrolyted too much? He was not sweating in training or at the race as he would if he were in a warmer climate. Too little electrolytes? His blood work while being treated showed a low potassium level. - Did this horse exhibit signs of pain in his pawing and demeanor that were discounted due to his naturally nervous and bossy nature? Was his refusal to eat at vet check 3 the turning point for him, or was it sooner?

- Did this rider let the thrill of the race cloud her judgement? Did she think this ÒtoughÓ horse that had overcome injuries and won, was invincible?

- Was this horse unsuitable for the sport of endurance? When is a nervous, easily agitated horse so high strung that his personality would mask the impending signs of discomfort to the point of "meltdown"?

- Was it prudent to pump water into a stomach after showing signs of reflux upon placing the tube? Should a reflux tube be kept in place longer?

- Should IV fluids been used immediately instead of NG?

Most likely it is somewhat the combination of all of the above, and maybe more, that struck Adios that day. We will never know all the factors for sure, but it would behoove all of us--riders, crew, vets, and managers--to strive harder to understand and to see the subtle problems that spell doom for our equine heroes.

The rider is ultimately responsible for the care of his/her horse and, at the same time, carries the deepest burden of regret when things go wrong. Our hearts go out to those who have lost equine friends, and we are grateful for their cooperation in our effort to learn more, and eventually eliminate the tragedy of metabolic treatment and death in endurance horses.