The Twin Tiers Horse: Hudson's Field Trip to Cornell

Have you ever wondered what occurs during a lameness evaluation at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine's Equine and Farm Animal Hospital?

Hudson wearing a patient's "wrist band" on her halter.

If you're lucky, you have never had reason to experience it, but I know that many horse owners, and pet owners in general, are glad to have that well-known institution in the region when it comes to the expert care of our critters.

I am one who has always been curious as to what goes on there. And now I know, because Hudson and I, with friend Trish Pierce, trucked ourselves up there on Friday to see what might be making my big, black-and-white beastie show signs of pain.

I'm hearing the plan for the day.

Her symptoms are subtle: With regular work, she doesn't want to be ridden downhill. This issue becomes worse with work. When you "google" this, you will find every possibility under the sun -- sore back, saddle fit, sore hocks, sore stifles, sore front feet, vision, ulcers.

Yeah, right -- that's a big help!

The "Big Red" hall.

Then I noticed she seemed to be feeling pain when turned sharply on our gravel pad near the barn. Also, I thought she took two lame steps when transitioning from the canter to the walk the other day. She has been diagnosed with sore front hooves in the past, and I have noticed that with more work, she seems to have issues.

These symptoms are not intense, but I have entered Hudson in one of the Genesee Hunt Races in October and I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be doing something that hurt her. So our trip to Cornell was a combination of a lameness exam and a soundness exam.

Dr. Fubini explains how to flex the fetlock.

We pulled up to to large front doors and Trish checked us in while I unloaded Hudson.
Then the great, red, sliding doors opened and we stepped into the mysterious world of Cornell Equine.

Hudson went into a large stall with shavings and water, and I hung her hay bag to keep her brain busy. We were attended to immediately and frequently by a number of veterinary students, and also met Dr. Susan Fubini, professor and section chief of large animal surgery, who would be attending to Hudson.

The infamous big white arse and a hind flexion.

In short order, students checked Hudson's vital signs and tested her front hooves for pain (none was detected). Then Dr. Fubini reappeared, along with Dr. Lisa Fortier, whose focus is on bones and joints, and a group of students. Hudson's joints were flexed and held, and then she was trotted down Cornell's long, well-padded, red hallway. No significant pain was detected.

Trotting on black top.

We went outside and trotted her on the blacktop. Nope, no particular signs of pain. We went into the lovely round arena, with its medical-school viewing area and she was lunged.

Nope, nothing. So we saddled her up and I rode. She took some short steps on sharp turns, but nothing Dr. Fubini said she would even call out in a pre-purchase exam.

On the lunge line with spectators.

In came Steve Kraus, Cornell's head farrier. He looked over Hudson's hooves and didn't see any concerns except possibly thin soles, which he said would be checkable in X-rays. He said that many horses are presenting with sore hooves this year, because the rainy summer has caused more softness and movement in hooves. He said the weather can make a huge difference in the way hooves respond. Last summer, when things were drier, Cornell didn't see as many sore hooves as this year, he said.

Next came peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Trish and I, and X-rays of the front hooves, for Hudson.

Dr. Fubini helps tack up.

Dr. Fortier called us in to review them. Her main points were that Hudson's hooves are beautifully balanced and her coffin and navicular bones are perfect. She said my 10-year-old heavy girl has the hooves of a 2-year-old! Also, she has tons of sole -- nothing thin about them. The only spot of concern was a touch of arthritis starting in the upper pastern joint, and she recommended I take off a bit more toe during trims. She said the arthritis is nothing to worry about now, but getting some of the weight off my favorite fatty was definitely prescribed.

Feeling like I'm in the Spanish Riding School (on my fat, piebald Lipizzaner?)

The fact that she was the first person to tell me that Hudson is too fat was a surprise to both Trish and I. Usually vets tell me that from the moment they see her. It's a constant problem that I'm not always as diligent in fighting as I should be.

A check of the stifles was the last part of our visit. They were proclaimed tight, which is good.

Overall, they detected a mild lameness on a few steps and the start of arthritis in her pastern.

There was nothing left to do now but pay the bill and go home.

Good shot from the viewing area.

The payment part is what everybody worries about at Cornell, but I was very relived to see that the full cost was just over $400, and most of that was the cost of X-rays. The actual exams were quite inexpensive, especially considering I had a section chief, an orthopedic specialist and the head farrier all examine her, not to mention a plethora of vet students.

Mr. Kruas evaluating her hooves.

I ran to get the truck and trailer and, when I pulled up, I could hear Hudson's little whinny from her stall, inside the building. The only small thing about Hudson is her whinny. It's the sweetest little voice, and completely unexpected from such a big girl. I'm pretty sure she recognized the sound of the truck and was reminding me that she really wanted to be on it so she could go home. She verified this by climbing aboard without hesitation.

It's hard to get a shot of a farrier's face!

Overall, I'm pleased. I'm pleased by the service she received, and all the expert eyes looking at her, and how kind and easy everyone was to work with at Cornell. I'm thrilled to hear how good her feet are (and, incidentally, pretty pleased with myself. I have been her farrier for most of her life, and to hear I'm doing a good job is always a relief. On Friday, I heard I am doing a VERY good job).

I was delighted with Hudson's behavior. If she was questioning what the heck we were doing there, she never let it show. She just played along, cooperating gamely with every step of the process.

Leaving through the big red doors.

The only down side is I still don't know what exactly is going on with her, but at least I know I can go on with her training without worrying about exercise-induced founder or navicular/caudal heel syndrome, serious concerns that were nagging at me.

Cornell's service and people were great, and I have nothing but good to say about our experience. And a big THANKS to Trish for being my wingman!