Written by Paul Vettise
Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock (NZ) has undergone two surgeries since suffering a serious foot injury in a freak paddock accident that prompted his withdrawal from service.
It was initially operated on by Dr Ric Redden from Lexington, Kentucky, last Friday, and assisted by Dr Hitchcock and Dr Zantingh from Cambridge Equine Hospital and two farriers.
Dr Redden fitted an artificial shoe and sole to the foot and placed a support structure on the other foot to assist the horse in his recovery.
The stallion was confined to his box for the weekend, under observation and treatment from both Dr Hitchcock and Dr Redden, who left for the United States on Sunday evening.
However, Tavistock was still in some discomfort on Monday morning and following a consultation with Dr Redden it was decided that a further surgery was required to bring relief.
While Cambridge Stud had hoped the initial surgery would have been enough, the second procedure was deemed to be in the horse’s best interest and was successfully performed by Dr Hitchcock and Dr Zatingh.
Tavistock’s recovery will be a long-term process, possibly up to a year and the stud remains hopeful he will resume duties in 2020.
The dual Group 1 winner of the Waikato Draught Sprint and the Mudgway Partsworld S., Tavistock’s leading representatives so far are the multiple Group 1 winners Werther (NZ), Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ) and Tarzino (NZ) while Tavago has also been successful at the highest level.,
