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We first took the Ranvet travelling scope to
Mr. Bailey’s stables at the
Gold Coast on the 17/12/2001. Alan Bailey at that time was like many
trainers, he was not sure that stomach ulcers played a part in effecting
a horses ability to train on or the effect it has on feeding and
temperament.
With the dedicated stable
vet Dr Phil Jefferies, we scoped 18 of Mr. Bailey’s horses looking for
stomach ulcers. The 18 of
them had severe ulcers. One of the 18 was an un-raced 2-year-old called
Amex. Amex had grade 2 and grade 3 ulcers in more than 60% of his
stomach.
This is where our story begins.
Quoting Alan, who was standing behind us while we performed the
endoscopy, “I know why he has ulcers” why Alan, “He has seen his 2 year
old campaign the owners have mapped out for him”. We all laughed!
Alan went on to say that Amex was the worst eater in the stable and had
an unpleasant temperament. So the old saying “seeing is believing”
works for Mr. Bailey and his dedicated staff. We agreed to return to the
Gold Coast within 4 weeks for Mr. Bailey to re-scope the horses as long
as they treated them correctly for the ulcers. We spent considerable
time explaining to the staff why the horse gets ulcers and why it is
important to treat them and how to use Ranvet’s ulcer program and how
the drug worked. Now remembering, all the horses had bad stomachs, we
re-scoped them as promised and found 100% healing. Mr. Bailey became a
complete convert. He now, two years on, treats all his horses with the
Ranvet Ulcer treatment. Mr. Bailey also took on board our findings of
spelled horses often come back into work with ulcers and he puts all his
horses coming in from the spelling paddock on a full treatment the day
they arrive and then continues on with our maintenance treatment, which
I would like to point out, he helped us fine tune after many re-scope
trips.
The little 2-year-old Amex blossomed, his
eating habits improved out of sight and his attitude to life changed and
best of all was showing promise on the track. Amex performed well as a 2
year old, but missed the start one day and decided that was what you do
at the races. His wins would definitely be more if he had jumped
properly according to Mr. Bailey. Thankfully, Alan now has him out of
that little habit. Amex is now a 4 year old and a stunning fellow to say
the least. But he has one of those stomachs that re-ulcerate at the drop
of a hat so Mr. Bailey decided to treat Amex constantly while he is in
training.
Earlier this year when Amex returned from the spelling paddock he was
stomach drenched for bots etc, as is all of the Bailey stable horse are
now, due to us finding bots in several horses on one of our many scope
trips to him.
Amex had an adverse reaction to the drench and nearly died on them.
Alan’s comment was, “It was touch and go for a week” The little horse
stayed on his ulcer treatment through out his ordeal and we scoped him
about four weeks after the illness.
The horse was entitled to have ulcers from what he had just been
through, Alan went on to say, but to every ones delight, a clear
stomach. Alan was ecstatic. This campaign Amex has won and had quite a
few barn storming finishes into second place, photo finishes and a
couple of protests, which unfortunately did not go his way.
Amex also competed in the 2003 Epsom, he enjoyed a good position in the
running, but often in the big fields the front runners tire and when our
little fellow commenced his run, the gaps closed and his jockey
literally had to stop riding him, Amex’s head went up in the air and
lost the momentum, he certainly did not disgrace himself in this group
race and has showed us he is a horse that will be able to mix it with
the big guns in the future.
This horse has matured and will continue to do so after talking to Alan,
a trait of the dam he tells us.
So the Bailey stable has a lot to look forward to with this fellow. Just
recently Alan relayed that Amex looks so good in the coat he likened him
to a “snake that had just shed its skin”.
After a visit to Kevin Mosses stable at Randwick where Amex is staying
for his Sydney assault, Alan was not wrong. Amex’s track work rider,
strapper all round mum, Charlotte Stokes, who has been with the horse
from a baby, certainly makes sure of his well being and looks. The horse
is a credit to Mr. Bailey and young Charlotte.
Amex is one of Ranvet’s number one ulcer horses and we wish Mr. Bailey,
his staff and owners all the very best in the future. You may be
thinking why are we showing you Amex, Well he was one of those horses
that catches your eye, as he did with me when we first scoped him.
Mr. Alan Bailey has approved and endorsed
all in this article.
Thank you Alan.
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Innovation
