Meet Alexis VZ. and Vaki (a ColiCare Success Story)
- Success Profile: Dark Echo (aka “Vaki”)
- Breed: Thoroughbred
- Age: 7
- Discipline: Hunter/Jumper
- Owner: Alexis von Zimmer, PhD
The Worst Kind of Call
No horse owner ever wants to receive the phone call and hear the words, "Your horse is colicking and needs to go to the clinic for emergency surgery….NOW!” but that is exactly what happened with my beloved 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding "Dark Echo" (aka Vaki). After nearly 60 years of horse ownership, this surgical colic was a first -- and hopefully the last.
As a retired NASA engineer with a specialty in risk analysis, I, like all other horse owners know that anything can happen at any time with any horse. Despite all reasonable precautions- including top quality feed, exercise, turnout, high quality of life, and daily SmartPaks- the risk of colic is never zero. On balance, these surgical cases are relatively rare, but it is for those times that the ColiCare program is worth more than words can describe.
I made it to the clinic before Vaki's surgery began and spoke with the surgeon about the situation. The prognosis looked favorable, but there are never any guarantees. So, I waited, and waited, and waited on edge- until the surgery was over and Vaki was in recovery- about 11:00 p.m. that night.
SmartPak to the Rescue
SmartPak came to the rescue. Amid the emotional distress, just knowing that I had the ColiCare insurance to cover up to $15K of the cost was a huge relief. I also have full insurance coverage with a major carrier, and they looked to SmartPak to help with the surgical bill.
Along with SmartPak's ColiCare program, I have to extend the deepest appreciation to UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, and specifically surgeon Dr. Jorge Nieto and his team. Many thanks also to my dear friend and trainer, Andrea Barbee and Gino Simone of Dreamland Farms, Marcel Kristel, and attending DVMs Sarah LeJeune and Kim Gill-Favier, for ensuring that Vaki made it safely to the clinic for emergency surgery. And after the fact, Horse Priority owners Brenda Beem and Steve Tintle expertly managed Vaki’s 90-day recovery, in collaboration with Sarah McCarthy, DVM.
I am ever grateful that Vaki not only made it through his colic surgery, but that due to everyone's expert care and dedication, he was able to return to riding and even showing within several months to earn show double champion in his United States Hunter Jumper Association divisions!
As a responsible horse owner and horse lover, all of my horses are covered by the Colicare program, and they will be for life! Enrolling in SmartPak's ColiCare Program is one of the smartest and risk-informed decisions I’ve ever made!
What's in Vaki's SmartPak?
SmartDigest® Ultra Pellets
SmartDigest Ultra Pellets provide unparalleled hindgut support for every horse and were specially designed to help manage digestive stress that results from modern horse-keeping practices, such as hay changes, training, travel and more.
