LEXINGTON, Ky.--KC Branscomb's Chromatic BF died April 18 at the World Cup Final in Riyadh, and the final necropsy report indicated the cause was pulmonary hemorrhaging, which could be attributed to multiple causes.
Chromatic, ridden by Jill Humphrey, died a little over two hours after finishing third in the second competition at the World Cup.
“We have received the final necropsy report for Chromatic BF, who passed away at the FEI World Cup Finals in April,” USEF said in a statement updated Tuesday , June 11. “The cause of the death was severe diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, which could be attributed to multiple causes, including disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), cardiopulmonary failure, shock and exercise-associated fatal pulmonary hemorrhage. The report further indicates that the histopathologic findings raise the suspicion of fatal equine exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, despite Chromatic BF not exhibiting any overt signs of such condition. According to the final report, the administered medications were not identified as the cause of death. Dr. Stephen Schumacher, USEF Chief Veterinary Officer indicated the necropsy report is not conclusive as to the cause of the hemorrhage and edema.”
Branscomb contends that Chromatic's death was caused by an injection administered by the USEF team veterinarian, despite the fact that that injection had been administered to two other horses at the World Cup and also to many horses previously with no ill results.
That injection included Selevit, Legend, Adequan and arnica and was administered by Dr Ulibarri.
SELEVIT, LEGEND, Adequan and arnica are all either drugs or herbal remedies to ease or relieve various muscular problems, and all are approved by the FEI.
Dr. Ulibari is a highly respected veterinarian who has been the team vet for many competitions.
All are considered to be completely safe if administered intramuscularly, but in the case of Selevit, although there is nothing on the label, apparently somewhere in the long list below it states that if administered intravenously it can cause anaphylactic shock.
Branscomb was quoted online as say that, after Chromatic received the injection, "as she fed hm carrots Chromatic suddenly screamed and collapsed, then began seizing."
But many drugs, including probably all of those used by readers of this article, list a litany of all the terrible things that can happen if you use this product, yet doctors administer them and they are used safely in thousands of cases.
And there is no warning anywhere of a horse "seizing" from IV Selevit.
Drug companies put these warnings on labels to save them selves from being sued in case of injury.
As the welfare of the horse is the primary objective of the USEF and the FEI, the USEF is bending over backwards to prevent any possibility of danger.
Dr. Ubiani sent a proposal to the Sport Horse Veterinary Association banning the use of intravenous Selevit, which will be forwarded to the FEI.
Carly Weilminster, Sr. Director, Sport Communications & Social Media at USEF, said that the Sport Horse Veterinary Association was in the process of formulating their response.
Weilminster also said that USEF has stopped administering IV Selevit as a matter of course.
The "horse participation agreement" in effect at the World Cup effectively required owners to lend their horses to the USEF and that "for purposes of horse welfare, by signing this Agreement, the horse owner(s) give their full permission to the USEF and its agents to administer medication to their horse(s) in the interest of the horse(s) welfare and well-being during the loan period."
That agreement has been updated to state the the rider, who is considered the person responsible by the FEI, must agree to all non-emergency medications.
