Noel and Wendy Kennard are use to the ups and the downs you suffer being involved with the harness racing industry but nothing could prepare them for what they had to do today.
Monkey Bones, the distinctive grey son of Andover Hall who had really started to make a name for himself in the trotting ranks in New Zealand had to be humanely destroyed after his long running battle with ligament and tendon injuries suffered a few seasons back eventually caught up with the stallion.
Noel and Wendy have known for some time that this day would come at some point but that still doesn't prepare you for the day when you have to give the vet the go ahead.
It is presumed that Monkey Bones has done the splits in the paddock and tore all the ligaments and tendons in his knee.
As a result Monkey Bones has gradually become more and more immobile as time passed.
" We gave him everything possible down his throat and by injection to help him.
" We x-rayed him before and after every season to check his status and condition.
" The vet told us that last season would most likely be his last and that's how it has worked out," Noel told Harnesslink this afternoon.
Noel and Wendy went to great lengths to make Monkey Bones as comfortable over the last few seasons as possible and their affection for the horse is evident when talking to them.
" He had such a lovely nature and was great to do anything with."
" Even when he was in pain, it never changed his nature, he was such a kind horse," Noel said
Monkey Bones served a quality book of 66 mares in his last season and will still be available for many seasons to come via frozen semen.
" We have enough frozen semen barring accidents to see us through a few seasons so the last hasn't been seen of Monkey Bones by any means," Noel said.
We at Harnesslink would like to express our condolences to Noel and Wendy on the loss of a horse that they were obviously very close to.
Harnesslink Media