A Sad Story

www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/top...for-life/804924/top/

I hope he pulls through, one of my fav horses in the last few years....

Same here Easy,mentioned it earlier on the Wolf Power thread sad indeed:(

Hibs

sorry i missed it , dont read all the threads. What a good honest horse he is. Lets hope that Gods of the horses show him some love and make him better.

Monet's in good spirits after steady night

FOLLOWING an up-and-down day on Wednesday, Monet's Garden hada "steady night" according to trainer Nicky Richards, although the popular chaser still faces an uphill battle to beat his hoof infection.

After speaking to the vets at Oaklands Veterinary Centre at Yarm in Cleveland on Thursday morning, Richards said: "He's had a steady old night.

"He's still happy and eating and looking over his door and taking an interest in everything, but he's still got an uphill battle."

The 13-year-old, who suffered the infection after notching his third Old Roan Chase victory at Aintree in October, has responded well to treatment he received two days ago.

"He thinks heis a three-year-old again after the treatment, but he went backwards a little bit yesterday morning," added Richards.

"However, his vet Caroline Blackiston was happy with him last night and he had a quiet night."

Monet's Garden has been retired after a 32-race career that included 17 wins and the accumulation of £683,265 in win and place prize-money. Ten of his wins came in Graded company, with three of those at the highest level.

Monet's Garden owner 'clutching at straws'


MONET GARDEN'S owner David Wesley Yates on Friday admitted to "clutching at straws" after reporting that the hugely popular chaser's condition continues to show no signs of improvement.

The courageous front-runner contracted a life-threatening hoof infection soon after his third victory in Aintree's Old Roan Chase, since when the Nicky Richards-trained 13-year-old has been retired.

Wesley Yates, who has also watched Monet's Garden win three Grade 1 races, said: "He is stable. He isn't getting any worse, but I'm afraid he isn't getting any better and the antibiotics are not working.

"We are clutching at straws and the next few days are going to be critical.


"The vets said two weeks ago that the chance of him recovering was very remote, but he is so well in himself and he has such guts that I feel we should give him the chance to get better, particularly as, due to the painkillers, he is not in any pain. However, to go on much further down the line would be cruel to the horse."

Monet's Garden able to take steps outside box
Racing Post update

NICKY RICHARDS on Tuesday said that the condition of Monet's Garden remained largely unchanged although the popular former chaser was able to leave his box for thefirst time for a while.

The 13-year-old has been suffering from a potentially life-threatening infection in a hoof which he contracted after winning at Aintree last October.

Since then he has been retired and over the past few weeks has been having treatment at Oaklands Veterinary Centre in Yarm, Cleveland, where Caroline Blackiston and a team of vets have been trying to eliminate the threat of further infection.

Despite having his dosage of painkillers reduced over the weekend, there was more upbeat news on Tuesday as Monet's Garden was able to take some steps outside his box.

Richards said: "He is steady and, although there is no general change, the vets were able to lead him out for the first time in a while. Caroline said he was okay so let's hope we don't have any backward steps.

"It was nice for him to be able to stretch his legs and we are just hoping for the best."

The decision to reduce the amount of painkillers given to Monet's Garden was made over the weekend as it was feared that while alleviating his suffering, they could at the same time do damage to the internal organs of the brave front-runner who won 17 races in the colours of David Wesley

Monet's progress gives hope of homecoming

MONET'S GARDEN could be set for an emotional return to Nicky Richards' Greystoke yard before the end of the month as he continues to make good progress in his fight against a potentially fatal hoof infection.

Owner David Wesley Yates visited the hugely popular chaser on Friday at the Oaklands Veterinary Centre in Yarm in North Yorkshire, where his 13-year-old has been delighting vets with his recovery.

"Without getting too carried away, he is certainly going the right way and I am hoping that before too long they can bring him home back to Greystoke," he said.

"If he continues the way he is doing this next week we will have a look by the end of the week and maybe just think about something like that. Wouldn't that be fantastic? And what a homecoming he will get!"

Wesley Yates, who defied the advice of two different vets to have Monet's Garden put down when the infection was diagnosed, had not been to visit the grey for a while and said: "He was in good form and his wellbeing was very encouraging. It was the first time I had seen him for a few weeks and I noticed the difference."