Racing: Vets waiting on throat operation

By MIKE DILLON

New Zealand veterinarians are adopting a wait and see attitude to equine tracheostomy despite its growing success here.

The respiratory technique, banned in Australia, had its second New Zealand winner when Danasar made a winning debut at Matamata yesterday.

Paul O'Sullivan trains Danasar, and the first New Zealand racehorse to have a tracheostomy in New Zealand for 40 years, Kasman, at Matamata.

Tracheostomy involves creating an opening in a horse's neck and fitting it with a brass plug which is removed when the animal does any aerobic exercise, specifically trackwork and racing.

It is used when traditional respiratory-restoring operations have failed.

The two operations were done by veterinarian Dan Shaw, who says the equine vet industry is sensitive to concern and criticism that followed the publicity given the Kasman operation.

"It's fair to say we are monitoring that very carefully.

"We took it seriously and it was discussed at our last veterinary national conference."

Shaw sees the operation as saving horses.

"Horses facing this operation are otherwise lost to the industry.

"We are only taking about geldings here. Fillies and mares can be bred from, but geldings who have no other option cannot race and some of them could even end up as pet food."

The procedure is banned in Australia because of public perception.

"Some sections of the public here see it as inhumane, but that is simply not the case.

"The operation is the same as in humans, but the side affects are greatly different. Horses tolerate the mechanics of it much better than humans."

Paul O'Sullivan confirms that.

"I've never seen them shake their head or try and rub up against anything.

"The biggest problem is they are very high maintenance. You have to make sure the area is cleaned twice a day and that the plugs are sterile and changed daily. That's all time-consuming."

Danasar is an extremely well bred type and is now four years old after failing a respiratory operation.

He led yesterday and kept going strongly to record a fast 1200m.

"He was out for such a long time," said O'Sullivan.

It is estimated tracheostomy provides horses with 90 per cent of normal oxygen intake.

"One hundred per cent is not possible," said Shaw.

"The problem is air turbulence. The air has to go into the hole and do a sharp turn before it heads to the lungs. That turn creates turbulence."

O'Sullivan says climatic conditions are a major factor.

"How thick or thin the air is makes a big difference. Some days this horse hasn't been able to run at all."

Danasar is by Danasinga from classy racemare Tasman Dancer, who is the dam of Bali Sugar, the mother of Jim Gibb's outstanding mare Butterscotch.

Kasman also won after his tracheostomy, but O'Sullivan believes the 90 per cent maximum intake restricts their on-going career to the same level.

"I don't believe they can be top class with this."

The procedure was banned by harness racing in New Zealand, but that was reversed after the success of Kasman.

"They are very popular in England, where if a horse cannot get its wind on the flat it still has a real future over jumps," said Shaw.