St Nicholas Abbey’s fighting back after colic
St Nicholas Abbey is on the mend having suffered a life-threatening bout of colic while recovering from a broken pastern.
The six-year-old suffered the career-ending pastern injury last Tuesday (23 July) during a routine gallop at Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base.
The triple Coronation Cup winner was operated on the next day (24 July) in order to try and save him for a future career at stud. But on Friday (26 July) he suffered a severe bout of colic and underwent surgery at Fethard Equine Hospital.
“St Nicholas Abbey has made positive progress and is in good form today following yesterday’s colic surgery,” said owners Coolmore in a statement on Saturday (27 July).
“The colic was caused by caecal shutdown (equivalent to the human appendix), which is an extremely painful condition.
“His treatment means he cannot have food for a prolonged period — this is difficult for a horse like St Nicholas Abbey who loves his food and usually never leaves an oat!
“He will get parentral nutrition instead (intravenous nutrition) to fulfill his daily requirements.
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“All surgeons are pleased with the progress he is making with his pastern reconstruction and he is taking weight on the leg well.”
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.