Text © World of Showjumping
In August, Martin Fuchs’ Clooney 51 (Cornet Obolensky x Ferragamo) sustained a serious shoulder injury and has since been treated at a clinic in Zürich, Switzerland. To World of Showjumping, Fuchs talks about the latest news on his championship partner – who despite the seriousness of the injury, yet again has proven what an exceptional horse he is.
“Clooney has been doing really good,” Fuchs tells. “The veterinarians and professor Fürst at the clinic in Zürich are very, very happy with his development. It is really nice for me to hear how all the grooms and the caretakers there tell how Clooney is one of the smartest horses they have ever looked after. He uses the sling so well, he is such a good patient, and he protects himself. I believe this has played a big part in the healing progress, which has been somewhat unbelievable. I have been sending all of Clooney’s information to some of the best vets in the world and there is not one that can believe how fast and well he is progressing. It is just another thing about this outstanding horse; he was not only top class and one of the best in the world in the ring, he is just so clever and has such an amazing feeling also outside of it. Clooney seems to think with the humans, who are focused on achieving the goal of getting him back home to live a life outside the clinic. Everyone at the clinic in Zürich is doing a fantastic job!”
Next week, it is time for one last, big challenge for Clooney’s on his journey to recovery. “We are going to try to take the sling off, and he can try to start laying down,” Fuchs explains. “That is the last dangerous part of his healing process. The first times he lays down and gets up, we have to hope that everything holds together; that his bone has healed enough and that he has power enough to lay down and to get up again. Clooney will obviously be observed by professor Fürst and his crew, and they will be ready to help him with whatever he needs. However, we are very confident and optimistic that this will work. Usually, they try this after 6-8 weeks after an injury, but we wanted to play it safe and we waited the full eight weeks. Next Monday, it will be eight weeks since the injury and we will give it a go.”
“Afterwards, Clooney should slowly be ready to come back home to his old stable, which of course is very exciting,” Fuchs continues. “However, I have to say that he really seems to enjoy himself at the clinic: We have so many good people around us who wanted to take care of him, he is never alone, there is always someone there. It is really beautiful to see what a special horse he is, not only for me and my close team, but even for many other people who have only known him briefly. It makes me very proud to have been able to ride a horse like him and to have been his partner in crime for so many years. I cannot wait to get him back home, and to see him back in the field, enjoying the retirement he deserves.”
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