网红黑料

A world-class dressage horse treated successfully at the University of Florida for an irregular heartbeat has rediscovered his rhythm and returned to international competition.

His proud trainer, Kelly Layne, a member of the Australian team at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Germany and now a Wellington, Florida resident, is thrilled with Udon P鈥檚 comeback. She hopes he鈥檒l pick up where he left off before his cardiac problem disrupted their training and that the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood will qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a high-level athlete, but what鈥檚 interesting to me is the fact that his owner, in concert with his trainer, embraced his problem, when many people would rather not discuss their animal鈥檚 health conditions publicly,鈥� said ., an associate professor of at the and a member of Udon P鈥檚 care team.

鈥淭his horse鈥檚 owners took the opposite approach 鈥� they have taken this as a learning opportunity and even developed a heart-themed freestyle for his return to competition,鈥� Sanchez said.

Layne attributes Udon P鈥檚 success to his, well, exceptional heart.

鈥淣ot many horses go through what he has and then fight their way back into the international competition arena,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e should definitely reward and celebrate the horses that have this kind of moxie.鈥�

Known by his stable name, Noodles, Udon P arrived at in April 2014 as a rising star in the world of dressage, a competitive equestrian sport during which riders guide a horse through a series of complex movements aimed at developing obedience, flexibility and balance. He was competing at the Grand Prix level and had recently won an international freestyle event, in which the horse鈥檚 movements are choreographed to music, in Wellington.

鈥淚n the four international competitions known as the Concours Dressage International, he competed in nine tests with scores as high as 73.6 percent,鈥� Layne said. 鈥淲e were having an exceptional first season at the international Grand Prix.鈥�

But fate intervened, shortly before Layne and her husband, Steve, were going to fly the horse to Normandy, France to represent Australia in the World Equestrian Games. He began showing signs of distress, including bleeding from the nose, coughing and unexpected gait changes.

鈥淣oodles loves to canter, so we were very concerned,鈥� Layne said. 鈥淚t became impossible to train.鈥�

The Laynes鈥� veterinarian, Meg Miller Turpin, D.V.M., diagnosed atrial fibrillation, otherwise known as an irregular heartbeat. She referred the horse to UF鈥檚 Large Animal Hospital for a procedure known as electrical cardioversion. The facility is the only equine veterinary hospital in Florida capable of providing the procedure.

The Laynes pulled Udon P from competition and focused on their horse鈥檚 health.

Although the horse sailed through the procedure, his recovery back home in Wellington was somewhat rocky, Layne said.

鈥淭he pressure to fly to Europe was gone as we had withdrawn Noodles from consideration. He just needed time to regain his health and confidence,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e had OK days and some not very good days. However, his heart was strong and remained in normal rhythm at 40 to 42 beats per minute.鈥�

About six weeks after the horse鈥檚 discharge from UF, a large thunderstorm brought gusty, cool air to Wellington. For Layne, it was a pivotal event.

鈥淧erhaps it was the combination of the cooler weather and the storm, or maybe it was just time, but Noodles switched on and since that moment has never missed a beat, both figuratively and literally,鈥� she said.

To celebrate his return to competition, Layne collaborated with a British composer to create a freestyle routine consisting of songs that have the heart as a theme. The routine was first performed in January, when Udon P was back in competition.

鈥淲e wanted to dedicate this freestyle to his big heart that wouldn鈥檛 give up,鈥� Layne said. 鈥淧robably the most emotional song in it is 鈥楳y Heart Will Go On,鈥� from the movie 鈥楾itanic.鈥� Everyone involved has been touched by this amazing horse.鈥�

Udon P is 鈥渃oming along nicely鈥� for the 2016 competitive season, but Layne is equally excited about her horse鈥檚 continued good health and attitude.

鈥淧retty amazingly, he has just not had any health issues for the past 14 months,鈥� Layne said. 鈥淣ot many horses enter the arena with such willingness and enthusiasm.鈥�

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine is supported through funding from 网红黑料 and the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.