Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Military and K-State Team Up to Return Horse to Active Duty

By Patrice Scott

MANHATTAN -- A devastating injury threatened to take a dedicated Fort Riley troop out of action. That's when the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University and the military entered into a joint mission to return this mount to the front line.

According to his caretakers, Ike, a 13-year-old paint quarter horse, is a workhorse. He loves working and doing. However, an injury in late December took Ike off active duty.

"It must have been very difficult for him to watch as the other horses were loaded on trailers headed to Washington, D.C., for President Bush's inauguration," said Capt. Cayla Slusher, commander of the Fort Riley Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard. "He must have wondered why he wasn't going."

The mounted color guard performs at parades, encampments, cavalry demonstrations and special ceremonies across the country. Ike is one of 17 horses and two mules in the unit.

Ike's injury was the result of trauma. He had somehow injured his right front leg, more specifically the pastern joint, which is located between the ankle and hoof. The Fort Riley veterinary staff and soldiers provided initial treatment. "They gave him a steroid injection to relieve the pain and reduce swelling," said Dr. Carolyn Arnold, assistant professor of equine surgery at K-State.

"They (Fort Riley soldiers) did all the right things and gave Ike every chance to heal, but he wasn't progressing. The damage was too severe, and he was in pain."

Possibly just as painful for Ike was watching the other horses pass by him daily for training. "Ike is athletic. After he was injured, he spent most of the day in a stall," Slusher said. "We occasionally turned him out in a small paddock so he could have contact with other horses, and they would come up and talk to him. The situation had to be very frustrating for him."

Arnold and 12 veterinary students traveled to Fort Riley where she gave a presentation on Ike's condition and prognosis to 21 people involved with Ike's care, including soldiers in the mounted color guard unit, the horses' trainer and the Fort Riley veterinary staff.

The pastern joint is a very unforgiving joint and arthritis is inevitable, she explained. Since Ike's condition was not going to heal on its own, only two options remained. One was to operate. The other option was to put Ike down. Slusher said the idea of destroying Ike was unthinkable.

"Ike has an incredible work ethic," she said. "He loves jumping and the thrill of cavalry. His personality meshes with all of the riders and with the training. He has such heart."

The unit's budget was limited so soldiers mounted a campaign for Ike to have the surgery. Before anyone was going to discuss putting their horse down, they were going up the chain of command.

Lt. Col. Don Culver of the north plains district veterinary command and Dr. Roger Fingland, director of K-State's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, joined forces and resources in an effort to save Ike. They agreed to match funds and work together to contain costs.

Maj. Gen. Hardy, commanding general of Fort Riley, said Ike is an ambassador for the U.S. Army. "The mounted color guard is part of the Army and part of our history," he said. "The partnership we entered into with the teaching hospital is another in a continuing relationship."

Fingland recognized the teaching opportunities. "Simply put, an important representative of the United States military was injured and needed our help to have a chance to return to service," Fingland said. "We have had a long-standing, positive relationship with the mounted color guard and have continually embraced the opportunity to support the military in this regard. This was an excellent learning opportunity for our students and residents making it a win-win situation."

On Feb. 16, Ike underwent the two-hour procedure to fuse the joint. "We prepared the joint by removing cartilage and the fracture fragment," Dr. Arnold said. "Two transfixation pins were implanted horizontally across the cannon bone to allow Ike to bear weight on his leg." Surgeons also took a bone graft from Ike's hip and placed it across the pastern joint because these bone cells help speed fusion. The final step was to put his ankle in a cast.

Five short days following this surgery, Ike was discharged. Patients normally spend six weeks to two months in the hospital post-surgery and are not released while in a cast. Ike was allowed to leave because of the incredible post-op care available to him on post.
"Two soldiers are assigned to Ike with clearly defined duties," Capt. Slusher said. "Ike is constantly monitored."

Arnold has total confidence in the unit soldiers and Fort Riley veterinary staff. "They are perfect clients," she said. "Any little thing you ask them to do, they do it 100 percent. They use an infrared thermometer to take a cast temperature three times a day because an increase in heat could indicate rub sores. The soldiers are committed to him, and they are so respectful of the faculty and students. The best thing is to see how bonded they are with Ike."

Once Ike returned to Fort Riley, he received weekly check-ups from Dr. Shane DeWitt, assistant professor of equine field service. "His joint is fusing like it is supposed to," DeWitt said. That is a huge accomplishment considering there is no standard outcome with an injured pastern joint. "Our hope is that we save the life of the horse," Dr. Arnold said. "Second, we hope that the horse can have a wonderful life in the pasture. Third, we hope the horse may be able to return to full athletic function."

On March 4, Fingland joined Arnold and DeWitt on a field service visit to Fort Riley where they met with Maj. Gen. Hardy. Ike's condition steadily improved and doctors were optimistic about Ike's future.

The following week, doctors removed the transfixation pin and changed his cast. Ike cleared another hurdle April 21 when his cast was removed. He had a rub sore but nothing that concerned doctors. "The surgical site looks great," Arnold said. "He is right on track." DeWitt concurred. "Based on his progress, I expect Ike to be able to attempt to return to full activity. He has shown tremendous spirit throughout this ordeal."

Dr. Arnold said that Ike will begin taking short walks that will be increased over time to stimulate healing.

"We want to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the United States military for doing what they do for us," Fingland said. "We are intensely proud of each of you, and humbled by your selfless commitment. In a very meaningful way, Ike represents what we admire most in each of you."