RIP Bolero, and Why Stable Door Security is No Laughing Matter
On Friday morning our yard lost one of its sweetest and most talented faces – Bolero. He was a 5yr old BWP gelding, being brought on as a potential Grand Prix horse for the Yard Manager, who SJs and produces horses professionally. I just want to say a few words about what a great horse he was, how he passed away, and why horses opening their own stable doors is not a funny trick that should be encouraged.
Bolero was bought as an unbroken youngster from Belgium, and the YM’s stable jockey P had broken him in and was bringing him on. Not only has he been easy (which is what you want from 17hh of muscle), he’d also proven talented at his work. At 5years old he already had his flying changes down as well as lateral work: his rider said she literally could have taken him out and competed him at dressage next week. He was also a keen jumper with scope to burn, and was proving to be both brave and careful over a fence. The YM has lots of Belgian WBs in development as future GP stars: Bolero’s flame was already appearing to be burning the brightest of all the young contenders.
Having never ridden Bolero, I knew him only as this gorgeous face over the stable door:
This beautiful fella loved cuddles. He’s nuzzled lots, and lowered his head so you’d scratch his forehead for him. He also had impeccable manners – you asked him to go back from his door at hay time and he fully obliged at first request. He also knew how to say please by bowing his head. He was also gentle in the stable – lots of the younger GP horses I wouldn’t get in with if you paid me as they’re very bolshy and bargy. Not Bolero though – I was always happy to get in and rug him up, especially as it was a chance for a big cuddle.
Bolero’s best friend on the yard is the flaxen chestnut Gorus. They always got turned out together, and hooned around like all young ‘teens’ should:
They both were galloping towards the fence here, stopping to dead to watch the derby I was photographing, before taking off and doing it all over again. These are shrunk a bit, but from my original photo you can see how distinct Bolero’s stripe is here.
While Gorus is bolshy, lively and a bit short-tempered, Bolero was a gent. When bringing them in from the field you always got Bolero first – he’d let you walk right up to him and then would calmly walk in with you to his box. We always hoped it would set an example for Gorus, but while Bolero plodded, Gorus always danced.
Perhaps the saddest thing about losing Bolero is that it shouldn’t have happened – it was completely preventable. Since Bolero moved box, he was able to get out of his stable. Normally all he did was say hello to other horses on the yard and mutual groom over the doors. He lived next door to a squealer, and she’d always let us know when he was out! After doing it a couple of times, the YO put a brass snip on the bolt, so that he could no longer open it itself. It worked perfectly 80)
So, on Thursday while my RI (who is also the RS manager and deputy YM) was at the big horse boxes (a set of 5 off the main yard that the YM uses for horses he rides himself) mucking out a mare who’d returned from colic surgery, she heard the sound of hooves trotting on the concrete of the yard. She turned and coming towards her was Bolero, standing at the 5bar gate that leads to the fields, all snorting and looking like he was seriously considering leaping over the fence from a standstill to get out and graze. Two of the yard staff started jogging up behind Bolero to catch him. RI told them to stop – he was considering jumping and if they came after him he’d just tank off. She quietly walked away to get a head collar and lead rope but they kept moving quickly towards him, and he took off like a TB at the races.
Bolero didn’t jump the gate and head for the fields though – he was heading back to his box. To help understand the logistics of it, here’s the lay out of the main yard.
Neither the YM or the horse’s rider P were on site, so the vet did the only thing he could which was stitch the wounds (though it would never be a long-term solution for the back leg – it was just to prevent infection before the horse’s fate was decided). He left two bute as well. I mean, bute? I appreciate that’s all the vet had the power to do, but that’s like giving someone two paracetamol after being in a car crash – what use is a mild NSAID when morphine is required? Anyway, when P arrived Bolero didn’t look as bad as he first did, so she decided that she wanted his hock tested as if the joint in tact, he might recover. The vet came first thing next morning and found nothing but blood on the joint. This was the severest injury, so it had already been decided that if the joint was goosed then that was it before Bolero, bearing in mind that he hadn’t been X-rayed but it was suspected that he’d fractured his ribs and probably his hind. Bolero was therefore put to sleep there and then. The YM was still away in Holland, and ass no one was available to hold him, P she stayed with one of her horses for the first time ever while he was PTS. I’m kind of glad, because when a horse loves and trusts someone, everything scary is that bit easier when that loved one is there. I hope Bolero was a little less frightened because P was there for him.
So, how did Bolero get out when he’s got a brass snip on the door that stops him? Well, it quite clearly wasn’t on when the door was checked afterwards. The horse couldn’t do it himself: it was forgotten by whoever saw to his bucket of hard feed, or undid his rug that morning. My RI hadn’t been near his box that morning as she’d started with the separate boxes because of the mare who’d colicked. So someone else on the yard had forgotten to do it up, and while the fall itself was a freak accident, it wouldn’t have been at all possible if they’d taken the 3 seconds to bolt and snip his door properly. I hope that weighs heavy on their conscience, as they’re sure never to forget to do it again.
As usual, I was watching something on Horse & Country TV this week and what did I see during the ad break? A girl laughing as her horse lets itself out of its box and does other stuff (like picking up a brush I think), much to everyone’s amusement. This advert isn’t alone – lots of videos can be found on Youtube of horses getting out of their boxes while their owners giggle from behind the camera. Well, a horse getting out of its box really isn’t funny: they could do other people harm if they’re tanking around, and they can do themselves fatal harm by falling, jumping out into traffic and more besides. So please, don’t think it’s a cool and hilarious trick that your horse can undo bolts: laughter can very quickly turn to tears and sorrow. People take precautions every time they ride (hat, gloves, BP, checking tack): don’t forget that horses need safety measures to protect them too, and being able to flaunt them isn’t funny, it’s downright dangerous.
RIP Bolero, you beautiful beautiful boy: I hope at least something is learned from your sad and sudden end.
