VN September 2023

Vetnuus | September 2023 14 FAURESMITH 2023 This year the Annual Fauresmith Ride started on Tuesday the 4 th of July after initial vet checks were completed on Monday the 3 rd of July - ensuring all horses were fit to depart. The ride finished on Thursday the 6 th of July. 282 horses were presented to the vets on Monday and two were judged not fit to continue, thus, 280 horses departed on Tuesday morning. Weather conditions were as cold as to be expected but warmed up by midday to very comfortable temperatures. The Veterinary team was a total of 21 and a CPD veterinary meeting took place on Monday afternoon organised by Dr Delarey Ribbens. The weather conditions prior to Monday had been very cold to start and then warming during the day. As the week progressed, the midday temperatures increased which resulted in many horses being very tired at the end of the day’s ride. 50.35 % of all horses that departed finished the ride. This reflects how difficult it was and sadly, a horse which had completed 10 Fauresmiths before this one, suffered a fracture of the metacarpal bone and had to be euthanized. A tribute to this horse was paid by Dr Delarey Ribbens at the Prize Giving. Before most people arrived, there had been a storm complicating the track because the water table was very high. The going was misleading, and as per usual - the bulk of horses fell out due to lameness. Many owners voluntarily withdrew horses thus not all of the horses that did not complete were due to veterinary decisions. Below is the table of results kindly provided by Dr Delarey Ribbens. History was made at the Fauresmith ride in that a brother and sister received the leaders’ bibs on Thursday morning and both of them were the first 2 to cross the winners’ line later that day. This is the first time that two people from one family have received leaders’ bibs and were the winners of the ride. The Veterinary Team under the leadership of Dr DelaRey Ribbens Back row – Left to Right: Drs Francois Gerber, Henk Basson, Marais Cilliers, Delarey Ribbens, Donald Macrae, Brighton Muyambiri, Tino Dakwa. Second from Back: Drs Leon Loubser, Lesley TeBrugge, Susarah Kotze, Sherike van der Merwe, Luana Venter, Erika de Jager, Jesse Jones, Joane Basson, Rinel Hugo, Wilhelm Janse van Rensburg, Hoggie Viljoen, Stephan Vermeulen. Front Row – Sr Doret Nickisson and Vet Students Bianca Pretorius, Zoe Bruwer, Carmia Botma, Melissa Lange, Jannike van Wyk Absent Drs Wendy Kok, Monica Muller