Rachel Alexandra’s Health Improving, Condition Stable

Champion Rachel Alexandra’s health is improving following abdominal surgery after foaling.

The 2009 Horse of the Year was taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital last week after she gave birth to a filly on February 12.

The seven-year-old mare suffered an injury to her colon from the birth, requiring a section of her intestine to be removed.

Rachel Alexandra came out of anesthesia without issues, though her veterinarian has said that is is too early to offer a prognosis on the champion racehorse’s condition. Forbes reports that the vet added that the horse is doing “the best that can be expected.”

Rachel Alexandra was also brought to the same hospital for pain management after she gave birth to her first foal last year. Stonestreet Farm, where the champion horse is located, did not inform the public at the time. Fans were upset when the news was leaked.

Social media has become big in the horse-racing world when horses are injured. Owners, trainers, and riders have offered updates via Twitter and other outlets regarding the horse’s condition.

Fox Sports notes that the latest update on Rachel Alexandra’s health show that the mare took a short walk outside and was able to eat a small amount of grass. The broodmare has been given IV fluids supplemented with feed.

Her veterinarians, Bonnie Barr and Brett Woodie, have been encouraged by the champion horse’s progress. The champion Thoroughbred was purchased by Stonestreet in 2009. Since then, the farm as engaged fans regularly through social media. They even used Twitter to form a contest last spring.

The contest’s three winners were invited to meet Rachel Alexandra and her 2012 foal, a colt named Jess’s Dream. After giving the update Monday night, the farm added that the next update will be Wednesday as long as Rachel Alexandra’s condition remains stable.

[Image By EclipseSportswire (Template:Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]