Triple Vodka - American Quarter Horse
- morethanpethk
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 24
HIGHLIGHTS
Foaled April 5, 2008 - Died October 27, 2022 (14yo)
The Incident: January 2021 (at 12yo) - US
The Health Issue: The right foreleg has a severe infection (suppurative hoof arthritis).
The Leading Surgeon: Dr. Ted Vlahos
The Outcome: A Success - Triple Vodka underwent amputation and was fitted with a prosthesis in January 2022. However, the horse was euthanised in October 2022 due to a severe abdominal pain attack.
ABOUT THE HORSE
Triple Vodka is a well known American Quarter Horse, he made eight career starts, winning five of them, and was twice third. He won his first three career starts, topped by the $400,000 TQHA Sale Futurity (RG2). He won the Old South Derby as a sophomore, and then lit the board in the Firecracker Derby before he retired.
THE HEALTH ISSUE – January 2021
At the age of 12, the horse developed a septic coffin joint in his right front foot. Despite top-notch care, the debilitating issue worsened. The owner thought that euthanasia was never really a choice as the horse loves life with energy.
THE SAVING EFFORT – led by Dr. Ted Vlahos
His easy-going demeanour made him an ideal candidate for the procedure of surgery, he was shipped to Yellowstone Equine Hospital, Wyoming US. The horse underwent a successful life-saving surgery performed by Dr. Vlahos and Dr. Dutton in February 2021. Since his issue was in the coffin joint within the hoof, his right front leg was amputated below the fetlock.
Dr. Vlahos incorporated his expertise of human trauma surgeons into equine practice. In the case of the distal limb, he preserved the sesamoid bones with a bulbous end, performed a neurectomy removing about three inches of nerve so the horse can’t feel the stump, then performed a tendon flap procedure, creating a thick pad of tendon at the end of the bone that is then covered with skin.
Different from human amputation, horses are required to be weight-bearing immediately after surgery. Dr Vlahos placed two threaded pins in the distal third of the cannon bone and applied a transfixation cast. So the weight transferred to the pins instead of to the stump. A metal cup and strap system were utilized to reduce stress at the bone-pin interface while the horse pivoting and turning.
The stump healed two to three weeks after the amputation, then the pins were removed two weeks later to allow full loading of the horse’s weight on the stump through the cast. The technicians started to construct the prosthesis made of carbon fiber in a couple of week.
It took multiple fittings and tests to ensure proper alignment to attach to the horse’s limb. The base is a titanium post and stainless steel footplate, with borium integrated into the bottom to increase traction.
The horse wore a standard human prosthetic sock, changed every day initially, and later every two to three days, depending on the horse’s individual needs. Triple Vodka returned to Zerlotti Genetics in Texas with his new prosthesis in January 2022, resumed his breeding career.
THE OUTCOME
Triple Vodka was living a relatively normal life. He has gotten 232 registered foals, including 68 starters that have earned $650,000+ on the racetrack.
On 27 October 2022, the horse was laid to rest following sever colic episode.
Source: Paulick Report
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