Monet’s Garden looks set to make a full recovery

Connections of popular grey racehorse Monet’s Garden are looking forward to welcoming the grey home imminently, following his life-threatening battle with a hoof infection.

“We are just waiting for the vet to call and say ‘come and get him’,” said his owner David Wesley Yates. “The farrier has fitted a virtually flat shoe with a plastic cushion, which should be his last special shoe.”

There had been some speculation about whether Monet’s tendon would readjust after having worn wedged shoes for so long, but the omens are good.

“He’s four square on the ground, so we know the tendon is adjusting, but it will take time walking in hand and taking sensible exercise,” he said. “The trouble is that he doesn’t know he’s retired, and he is very fit, well and fresh, so we’re hoping he doesn’t do anything daft.”

Monet’s Garden is still unsound at this stage, but he is now expected to make a full recovery. Mr Wesley Yates said that he can now start planning for the horse to enjoy an “active retirement”, which will include public appearances for his many fans.

“He has had so many well-wishers, and he will certainly be making plenty of visits to racecourses so that they can see more of him in the future,” his owner promised. “I’ve always wanted him to be kept busy, but who knows what he will be doing. It’s just fantastic that he’s made it.”

The 13-year-old was forced into retirement last month after developing a life-threatening infection in his navicular bone and flexor tendon.

The horse, trained by Nicky Richards, developed an abscess in his foot after winning a third Old Roan Chase at Aintree last October.

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