Recently hospitalized High Brow CD, winner of the NCHA Futurity and Super Stakes co-champion, is now on the road to recovery, according to Jim Ware, speaking on behalf of the stallion’s owners, Chris and Staci Thibodeaux, Jennings, LA.
Following the NCHA Super Stakes, trainer Austin Shepard left Fort Worth with an obviously healthy High Brow CD and the rest of his show string, to layover at Brett Davis’s ranch in Texarkana, Texas, in preparation for the Cotton Stakes Classic. But on Wednesday, April 23, High Brow CD was running a fever. He was attended to by Davis’s veterinarian and responded quickly to medication. By Sunday, April 27, however, he had relapsed.
On Tuesday, April 29, Dr. Cole Sciba, with Weems & Stephens Veterinary Hospital in Aubrey, Texas, diagnosed plural pneumonia, and under the direction of High Brow CD’s stallion manager, Don Ham, the stallion was transferred to Weems and Stephens Clinic. He began to steadily improve at the clinic, with the exception of some colic symptoms beginning on Saturday, May 3, attributed to antibiotics prescribed for his respiratory infection.
“High Brow CD was released from Weems and Stephens Clinic on Monday, May 12 and it appears that he is fully recovered,” said Ware. “He will spend the remainder of the month at Don Ham’s Ranch in Whitesboro, Texas, where he will be collected on a routine basis to complete his season for a full book of mares hand-picked for him earlier in the year.”
After his R&R break with Don Ham, probably around June 1st, High Brow CD will return to his home at Shepard’s training facility to prepare for the NCHA Derby, the only event that stands between the acclaimed stallion and the NCHA Triple Crown.
“High Brow CD has become a real superstar in a very short time,” said Ware. “Countless people have called everyone connected with the horse to express their concern. Chris and Staci wish to thank everybody and particularly all those who helped with High Brow CD’s recovery.
“A special thank you is also extended to Dr. Cole Sciba for his professionalism and round-the-clock dedication to High Brow CD and to Brett and Lisa Davis and their staff for providing excellent care to High Brow CD prior to his transfer to Weems and Stephens Clinic,” Ware added.
“This horse has a way of captivating people in much the same way that he draws cattle to him in the show arena. He has developed quite an extended family and fan club and we are pleased to report that he feels great, looks great, and is breeding great. In fact, he hasn’t missed a beat, other than the cancellation of his appearance at the Cotton Stakes Classic and the Breeders Invitational Cutting.”
High Brow CD is the earner of $430,580 and the undefeated champion of his first four events.