Shamardal: From mortality claim to millionaire

From mortality claim to millionaire

As news emerged that former champion racehorse and leading sire, Shamardal passed away at Kildangan Stud in Ireland last week, we were also reminded of his lifelong triumph over a neurological condition that ultimately contributed to his demise at the age of 18.

Shamardal, the sire of leading 2,000 Guineas favourite Pinatubo, was diagnosed as being a ‘wobbler’ when he was foal. The condition known more accurately as Cervical Vertebrae Stenotic Myelopathy (CVSM), causes coordination problems as the cervical vertebrae canal narrows and consequently compresses the spinal cord running through it. In the early stages, affected horses will typically present with a mildly abnormal gait, however as the condition normally develops in young horses aged 6 months to 3 years, the symptoms are often misinterpreted as ‘weakness’ as the same horses are often predisposed to developmental orthopaedic disease.

In the case of Shamardal, he was deemed to be suffering from the condition with such severity that a mortality claim was agreed by insures whilst he was a yearling in the USA. However, in a curious twist of fate he was taken on by the same loss adjuster appointed to the case, Richard Ketch. Incredibly, Ketch was able to improve the colt’s condition to such an extent that Shamardal found himself being offered for sale at Newmarket’s Houghton Sale. With very little knowledge of his history he was duly bought by trainer and qualified vet Mark Johnston for 50,000 gns – a fraction of the $485,000 he was bought back for as a foal. At this point, it should be noted that it would have been considered beyond belief for any horse with similar pathology to even enter a racing stable. Even more incredibly, Mark Johnston found a way forward to train Shamardal. He left Johnston’s yard the winner of over £1,000,000 in prizemoney and 4 Group 1 races, including the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and a notable victory over Hurricane Run in the Prix du Jockey Club.

When evaluating the degree to which a horse is affected, vets will use the Modified Mayhew System. This categorises the severity of ataxia into 5 grades. Grade 0 representing a normal horse with no symptoms, up to grade 5, whereby the horse is most likely found recumbent and unable to stand despite encouragement. Initial diagnosis is achieved by reviewing the history and performance of the individual together with a neurological examination. The diagnosis can be confirmed by radiographic evidence demonstrating the narrowing of the cervical canal.

Acute compression of the spinal cord can be treated with anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling of the site, but more moderate early onset cases can be treated with corticosteroids aimed at reducing soft tissue swelling and the formation of further bony lesions in the area. Surgical intervention may be possible in young horses exhibiting the early stages of the disease. The cervical joints are stabilised to encourage the bones to remodel as desired to alleviate and prevent further pressure on the spinal cord.

As standard, Lycetts’ All Risks of Mortality policies include the Wobbler Syndrome Extension Clause. This provides that if a horse is diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon as suffering from Wobbler Syndrome at grade 3 or worse during the policy period, the underwriters can consider a mortality claim limited to the sum insured of the animal. If the affected horse is not euthanised on this basis, underwriters may exercise their right to take possession of the horse. At all stages the insured parties must advise their broker accordingly as insurers may wish to appoint their own vet to review the case prior to agreeing a claim.