It were scary weeks for British Olympic team rider Nicole McGivern. At the Olympic Games in Athens late August, McGivern saw her score drop from a 78% to a 68% when her horse Active Walero got heart rhythm problems
in the middle of their Grand Prix ride. Though McGivern was able to finish her ride, the horse had to be withdrawn from further competition and put under intensive veterinarian care.
Nicola actually felt there was something seriously wrong during her ride. "Two-thirds of the way through the walk his heart started to really pound against my legs in a way
that I have never felt before," McGivern said. "It was almost impossible for him to collect
after that and he just kept on wanting to stop."
After their ride, McGivern walked her horse very long for him to catch his breath again, but to no avail. "We were so worried about him after the test in Athens, where his heart was pumping after the walk section that we had him blood tested," McGivern explained. "When we tried to walk him the following day just getting to the top of the hill was an effort for him."
Walero did not immediately get back to full health when he returned to England. "He returned a very sick horse extremely dehydrated and his heart under stress," McGivern said, "he was on a drip for the first week."
Slowly but steadily, Walero recuperated and became his old self again. Though McGivern is still awaiting further tests, the vets have said it was a virus infection that caused Walero to feel so badly.
Fortunately, Walero has now returned to full health a "He's is now back being ridden and dragging us to the field for grass," McGivern said. "You start the week thinking are they going to survive and end it daring to look at the FEI calendar again," McGivern stated.
Image copyrighted: Astrid Appels/Eurodressage.com - No Reproduction allowed
Related Links
Nicola McGivern Turns Up the Heat
British 2002 World Equestrian Games Squad Announced