Wynfield Taylor

Sex: Gelding
Breed: Standardbred
Discipline: Harness Racing
Stabled in: Galena, Maryland
Owner: Robert Warthen
Trainer: Dan Warrington, Galena, MD
Veterinarian: Dr. Judy Tubman

When Dan Warrington went to the sales to find a new horse for one of his clients, he found a prospect that fit the bill perfectly -- Wynfield Taylor, a yearling Standardbred with good conformation ready to start training for a harness racing career. As a Maryland-bred horse, he could participate in special incentive races in Maryland. He was by the proven stallion Tyler's Mark, who had tied the world record on a 5/8 mile track. Dan had had a lot of success with Tyler's Mark-sired horses.

With a good feeling, Dan brought the bay colt to his training farm in Galena, Maryland. The youngster was in good company at the farm. Dan, an experienced and successful trainer, had a stable full of winners, including the millionaire mare, Sannabelle Island. Wynfield Taylor developed into a "really nice horse," training very well as a two-year-old. Dan did note, however, that he was "just a bit" flighty.

In his first year, he lived up to his promise and established a good record as a two-year-old, winning several Maryland stakes races. He raced mainly at Rosecroft.

As a three-year-old, he started out well by winning a division of the sire stakes. But midway through the year, Dan noticed a change. "Things started to get spotty. He would be good some weeks, then not worth a nickel the next," said Dan. "He just wasn't right."

Wynfield Taylor was manifesting some worrisome signs. He lost interest in food and was eating sporadically. He was losing muscle tone. He was chronically tying-up. His coat lost its sheen. His manure was very loose and had such a foul odor that the grooms would complain. Normally a happy colt, he was now withdrawn. He would stand in the back of his stall and paw. He started to crib. By the end of September, 1998, he was visibly dropping weight.

Dan's veterinarian, Dr. Judy Tubman, had been concerned for awhile. To her, the symptoms pointed clearly to gastric ulcers. She treated Wynfield Taylor for several months with cimetidine and sucralfate, which were not approved for use in horses, but were the only options available. While he ate a bit better, it never took away the loose and foul-smelling manure. "He was getting worse and worse. We were grasping at straws," said Dr. Tubman. In addition to ulcer treatments, she had him on methocarbamol to help with the tying-up and pain medication for some minor lameness issues, to ensure they weren't the problem.

In March 1999, Dr. Tubman did blood work on her patient, which showed a CPK of 1,192 (high normal is 300). He now was tying-up "clinically."

By the end of 1999, Dan had stopped training the horse altogether. "He was half the horse he was previously. He wasn't competitive; he had no spark," said Dan.

Dr. Tubman urged Dan to take the gelding to New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania to get a definitive diagnosis of ulcers. He was reluctant, as it seemed a remote possibility. In his experience, he had not had a horse with ulcers before. Dr. Tubman borrowed a three-meter endoscope and she took a look deep into Wynfield Taylor's stomach. While it wasn't a good scope and the picture was a little foggy, she was able to show Dan the outline of ulcers. Convinced something was very wrong in his horse's stomach, Dan agreed to a trip to New Bolton on February 7, 2000.

There, Dr. Jim Orsini also performed an endoscopy, which confirmed Dr. Tubman's diagnosis. The entire squamous portion (nonglandular) was covered with tiger-striped ulcers. On a scale of severity, it was a grade 3 of 3, as bad as it gets. Dr. Orsini prescribed GASTROGARD® (omeprazole), and Wynfield Taylor received his first dose before leaving the clinic.

He continued on a full course of treatment for 28 days. Within three weeks there was definite improvement, but it was a slow process. It took a month for Wynfield Taylor to begin eating well again. His coat started to come around.

On March 15, 2000, he went back to New Bolton for a follow-up exam. The endoscopy showed his stomach was normal and the ulcers were healed. He had gained 49 pounds.

During this period Wynfield Taylor was in light work. It took almost three months for his muscles to come back. Both Dan and Dr. Tubman feel he is still thin and needs to put on 100 pounds or so. He receives a maintenance dose (half a tube) of GASTROGARD daily, and continues to show improvement. If he ever misses a dose, within 24 hours, he is standing in the corner with his head down and starting to paw.

Over the course of the year, at monthly intervals, the blood was drawn and tested. Not until July 7, 2000 did Wynfield Taylor show normal levels.

"It was a classic case," said Dr. Tubman. "He exhibited all the signs - weight loss, dull hair coat, cow flop manure with a foul smell, unwillingness to work, off feed, tying-up, and he was dull and depressed."
Since being on GASTROGARD, Wynfield Taylor has returned to racing. He competes in the top class for older horses at Rosecroft. In 13 starts so far, he has been on the board 12 times. Now that the little bay is eating well and feeling good, and barring any other problems, Dan estimates that Wynfield Taylor should have a long and prosperous racing career.