8/3/2019 Scone Equine Hospital article in November 2011 BLUEBLOODS magazine

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ON MOST stud farms, the running of theMelbourne Cup usually signals the beginningof the end of the stud season. It also signalsthe beginning of the yearling sale preparation season.As the first yearlings on stud farms enter theirpreparation for sales early in 2012, most yearlingmanagers will arrange to have these horses undergo anUpper Respiratory Tract Laryngoscopic Evaluation orscope at the beginning of the preparation.

The sale conditions for yearling sales in Australia allowfor scoping of horses within 24 hours after the fall of the

hammer and for the sale to be cancelled if the horse showsevidence of seven specific conditions listed or any othercondition that will cause significant airway obstruction.Scoping involves the insertion of a flexible endoscopewith a camera attached, through one nostril of the horseto the back of its throat. This technique allows a visualexamination of the structure and function of the back of the throat while the horse is breathing and swallowing.It allows a veterinarian to detect physical abnormalitiesas well as signs of inflammation or infection.

Scoping horses on farm just prior to the end of asale preparation and before they travel to the salescomplex is common practice. This is allows themanager and the studs veterinarian to formulate atreatment plan for those horses which require

medication prior to travel and allows themanager to give their yearling clients pre-warning of any potential problems that the horse mayhave. Many of the abnormalities found in the throatsof yearlings are relatively minor and respond well tomedical therapy with antibiotics and anti-inflammatorytreatment. Other conditions require specific surgery tocorrect. Occasionally a horse will have a serious,permanent abnormality, which cannot be treated orcorrected. Fortunately this is quite uncommon.

While scoping horses at the end of the salespreparation is useful, it is recommended as bestpractice that yearlings are also scoped at thebeginning of the preparation in order to detect anyabnormalities. This early scope will allow theveterinarian to determine if a horse has any of theproblems listed in the sale conditions or any serious,permanent abnormality that cannot be corrected.

If a minor infection is detected at this stage it canbe treated and managed so as not to worsen thecondition during the preparation and have the horsefit and ready for sale. If a condition that requires

surgery is detected, it maybe relatively simple andthe horse may be able tocontinue the preparationafter surgery. If a moreserious condition is

detected then arrangements can be made to treatthe horse and enter it in a later sale. If a permanentabnormality is detected at this stage it can save theclient the expense of the yearling preparation. When presenting horses for sale no one likes surprises.Early prep scoping gives managers a head start inmanaging these problems and getting a healthy horseto the sale ring.

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VETERINARY

SCOPING VITALas yearling sale season approaches

Endoscopic view of the back of a yearlingsthroat. The round orange area shows

infection and inflammation.

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