Dr. Ramanathan

Horse lovers at times forget that keeping horses healthy and fit, whether for competition, racing or breeding, is a combined effort upwards from the groom, to the rider, to the vet, and most importantly, the farrier — "no feet, no horse!" 

I am an active equestrienne from India, having grown up all my life with a love for equestrian sports and horses — not a common trait in Indians!! After a hiatus of 14 years I restarted my riding, having gotten selected to represent India at the 2010 Asian Games, as well as holding the current National Dressage Title.

I met my vet, Dr. Ramanathan, fondly known as " Ramu." The brief that I was given was that Ramu does not travel outside his domain (one of India's leading race horse farms in Pune) for anyone. I gathered some courage since I had to deal with a very emotional issue — my 21-year-old retired, first warmblood import into India by any civilian — had been suffering from chronic laminitis and X-rays revealed that the P3 was almost penetrating through the sole! The pain was so severe that the horse could not take any weight on his fore legs and bute wasn't an option any longer. I wasn't prepared to see Jerry so helpless. One call to Dr. Ramanathan and within a week we had scheduled to meet. Jerry is currently enjoying his retirement in the farm. He is lunged daily and taken on a hack every alternate day. 

Dr. Ramanathan, is a multi-talented person: a blacksmith (he makes hot shoes for horses in 30 minutes!), a farrier and most importantly, someone who is not only an artist with his veterinarian knife, but also someone who has the talent to immortalize the horse into the most amazing sculptures and art work!  I feel lucky to have found not only a friend and a guide, but an indispensable horseman on whom I can have complete and utter faith.

With my best wishes to all the farriers that have contributed towards the welfare of one of the finest sentient beings on earth — The Horse. 

— Shruti Vora

It stands to reason that one cannot excel in their field, if they do not love the work and the tools. Dr. Ramanathan proves this orthodoxy as one can see from this statue, which he made, that he loves all sorts of metal work.

In addition to being an artist, Dr. Ramanathan is concerned with a horse’s well being. His degrees in the veterinary sciences prove this to me. He therefore embodies what one looks for in the ideal farrier, an artist and a carer.

The story of our mare Star Rock highlights both these traits of his. When Dr. Ramanathan came to our farm – Equus (Talegaon, India) – as the senior vet, he inherited a severely laminitic mare, Star Rock. She had NO pedal bone and Dr. Ramanathan maintained her painlessly and in fact even bred with her. Of the four foals she produced, under his watch, one ended up coming second in the 2008 Indian Oaks!

Personally, it was most important that she was kept comfortable and pain free. I am pleased to say that Dr. Ramanathan managed that. The four foals were a bonus!

Two further examples that I wish to highlight, throw light not just on his abilities but also on his sensibilities. Tablaeu Vivant, a mare we imported to India early in 2012 had poor feet.

Finally is the case of our 3-year-old Thoroughbred, Bleu Foncee. She injured her right hock in early 2011 and after a few medical procedures that did not work, she went laminitic in her left hind. Dr. Ramanathan tried to save her but in his own opinion, euthanasia was the best option for her. What startles me most about this incident is not that we lost a potentially spectacular racehorse, but his reaction. I can vouch for the fact that Dr. Ramanathan tried absolutely everything to save her and couldn’t. His own despondency at the end result as well as his desire to improve his laminitic care speaks volumes about him as an individual.

— Amay Ruia