O'Brien Winner Doesn't "Knee"d Surgery

While most champion four-year-olds are either occupied in the breeding shed or prepping for the upcoming stakes season, Up The Credit is earning a little extra credit doing double duty this spring.
Following a million-dollar sophomore campaign which included a victory in the $1.5 million North America Cup and divisional honours at the O’Brien Awards, trainer Carl Jamieson and his partners Thomas Kyron, Joanne Morrison, and Brian Paquet decided the son of Western Terror out of the Pacific Rocket mare Cantbuymehappiness would become a sire and continue to race as a four-year-old.
With Jamieson heading south to Florida for winter training, Up The Credit was placed with conditioner Mark Horner while he stands stud at Seelster Farms.
“Mark’s doing me a great deed by training him this winter and breeding him for me because he’s only 15 minutes away from Seelster Farms,” noted Jamieson, who will be returning home at the end of April.
“I picked him up December 29 to be exact,” said Horner from his St. Mary's, Ont. farm last week. “He jogged light until the first of February and then he started training. He’s been training now in 2:15 and that’s at home in the jog cart.”
Horner says Up The Credit gets his training sessions in between his Monday-Wednesday-Friday breeding schedule.
“He’s been a busy boy,” said Horner. “I don’t have the exact numbers as to how many mares he’s bred, but I know he’s been busy. Hopefully it stays that way.”
Near the end of his sophomore year, Up The Credit looked to be facing surgery on a knee that was injured as a freshman and had resulted in some calcification around the area once it healed. However, Jamieson says the issue has cleared up with some TLC and the procedure is no longer needed for him to continue racing.
“He’s 100 per cent,” confirmed Jamieson, who was nominated on the ballot for this year’s Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductions. “We thought last Fall we might have to do surgery on the knee, but we were using the laser on him all summer and fall and it healed the knee up and everything’s the same as he was born with. He never had surgery and he’s 100 per cent ready to go.”
“He seems to be in good shape and I’m really happy with his conditioning right now,” added Horner. “I think he’s good to go.”
Up The Credit is expected to qualify mid-April in preparation for the Molson Pace eliminations on May 18 at Western Fair Raceway. He has also been nominated to a handful of other open stakes including the Ben Franklin, Des Smith, Canadian Pacing Derby, U.S. Pacing Championship, and Breeders Crown.
“Obviously it’s tough and there’s a lot of nice horses out there,” said Horner of the step up in competition Up The Credit will face. “Anytime a four-year-old goes into the older pacing ranks it's tough so hopefully we’ve picked the right spots and he’s in great shape and he has lots of luck. I hope that he’s ultra competitive and I really can’t see why he wouldn’t be if he brings it up to the next level.”
Meanwhile, Up The Credit’s younger stablemate and fellow O’Brien Award winner Warrawee Needy is on track to follow in his footsteps down the road to North America Cup 29. More on him in the coming weeks as Trot Insider.


Up The Credit uses Theralase's Cold Laser Therapy for its knee issues. For more information please call 1-866-843-5273 or visit www.theralase.com.

Laser Applications for Equine Athletes

Muscle and tendon strains, joint sprains and wounds are common injuries in equine athletes. Equine tissue like human tissue is highly vulnerable to repetitive stress and can be career limiting for the athlete if not treated properly the first time. Equine veterinarians across North America have discovered a medical technology that heals injuries on a cellular level safely and effectively without any discomfort to the animal. This new medical technology is known as the Theralase line of therapeutic medical laser systems.

The Theralase superpulsed laser system can penetrate up to 4 inches into tissue through all the hair and skin of an equine athlete to promote cellular regeneration at the source of the injury. Laser energy helps to repair damaged cells by accelerating several of the body's natural healing mechanisms. Depending on the severity of the injury, the equine athlete can return to competition usually within a few weeks instead of many months of stall rest. This means that your equine athlete can be back to competing in a fraction of the time.

Treatable Conditions

The Theralase superpulsed laser has over 17 clinically proven pre-programmed treatments for equine applications.
Partial List only



Everyone benefits from the Theralase laser system; as your equine athlete gets better, he/she will be able to return to training and eventually racing. The impact of using Theralase on your injured equine athlete is remarkable. By utilizing the Theralase super-pulsed cold laser technology for neuromuscular skeletal conditions, you will notice an immediate improvement in the health of your equine athlete to get him/her back on the track, so that you see your investment running again.

Some medical conditions that we have seen successfully treated in the field through the use of Theralase technology are shown below: 

Beneficial Equine Applications and Results Using Laser Therapy

Since the early '80s, light therapy has been used in the horse world for treating equine concerns and helping owners and trainers keep their horses in top shape. The first light therapy that was widely used on horses was laser therapy, also called low level laser therapy (LLLT) or cold laser therapy.

After many years of researching the therapeutic effect of LLLT (Low Level Light Therapy), be it laser or LED, the following is a list of treatable conditions for your animals:

·         Treatment of traumatic, inflammatory and overuse injuries.

·         Pain relief and healing of arthritic lesions.

·         Reduce abscess and treat persistent non-healing wounds such as cold sores and ulcers.

·         Prevent or minimize keloid (raised pinkish scar tissue at the site of an injury; results from excessive
tissue repair) formations and adhesions.

·         Reduce edema and reduce pain from surgical and other treatments.

·         Encourage formation of collagen and cartilage in damaged joints.

·         Encourage repair of tendons and ligaments.

·         Reduce stress and stimulate healing.

Now, why should YOU use it?

Many studies have reported great results with LLLT therapy for the following equine and canine concerns:

General: Arthritis pain, bursitis, bruising, burns, edema, deep muscle problems, hematomas, inflammation, tight or sore muscles and infections.

Hoof Problems: Abscesses, bone spurs, inflammation, navicular, ringbone and laminitis.

Leg and Body: Ankle problems, bone chips, hock problems, inflammation, ligament soreness, tendon problems, sore backs, splints, strains, stifle issues, sprains, swelling, shoulder pain, hip pain, sore backs, sore necks, salivary gland problems, wounds, cuts, scrapes and for stimulating trigger points and acupuncture points.

But how does it work and why?

We found many impressive studies that included the following:

·         The LLLT at specific wavelengths are reported to increase circulation by increasing the formation of new capillaries. New capillaries speed up the healing process by carrying more oxygen as well as more nutrients needed for healing and they can also carry more waste products away.

·         Collagen is the most common protein found in the body and the essential protein used to repair damaged tissue and to replace old tissue. Studies cite that LLLT and LEDs stimulate the production of collagen. It has been reported that by increasing collagen production, less scar tissue is formed at the damaged site.

·         LLLT therapy is reported to stimulate the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the major carrier of energy to all cells and provides the chemical energy that drives the chemical reaction of the cell. Increases in ATP allow cells to use nutrients faster and get rid of waste products faster by increasing the energy level in the cell.

·         Increases lymphatic system activity. Edema has two basic components, liquid and protein. Research has shown that the lymph vessel diameter and the flow of the lymph system can be doubled with the use of light therapy. This means that both parts of edema can be eliminated at a much faster rate to relieve swelling.

·         Reduces the excitability of nervous tissue. The light energy stimulates the release of endorphins which are the body's own long term pain fighting chemicals.

·         May improve peripheral neuropathies by stimulating nitric oxide production.

·         Increases RNA and DNA synthesis, which helps damaged cells to be replaced more quickly.

·         Increases the process of scavenging for and ingesting dead or degenerated cells by phagocyte cells for the purpose of clean up. This is an important part of the infection fighting process. Destruction of the infection and clean-up must occur before the healing process can take place.

·         Stimulates fibroblastic activity that aids in the repair process. Fibroblasts are present in connective tissue and are capable of forming collagen fibres.

·         Stimulates tissue granulation and connective tissue projections, part of the healing process.

·         Stimulates trigger and acupuncture points.

·         Helps relax muscles.

We have found no reports of adverse side effects regarding Theralase technology. It is repeatedly reported that when the cell is "reenergized" it accepts no more energy, so you cannot cause harm and it is reported to have no effect on healthy tissue. The body will not absorb what it cannot use.

Caution is urged for those taking photosensitive drugs. Please do not use on pregnant mares unless you are being advised by a veterinarian who is familiar with light therapy, we have found no studies citing use on pregnant mares… so before we recommend… more research is needed.

For more information please call 1-866-843-5273 or visit www.theralase.com