EN Gives Thanks: Rosebudd’s Comeback — It Takes a Village

What are you thankful for this year? That’s the question we asked EN readers for the 2018 Thanksgiving Challenge from World Equestrian Brands, and your responses were numerous and heartfelt. Over the holiday weekend, we are honored to share your special stories. You can read an archive of them here

A little over 3.5 years ago I purchased my heart pony, an 11-year-old 14.2-hand Arabian/Haflinger mare, Rosebudd. She was my first horse that was 100% mine. I had taken lessons on her and fell in love.

First official ride after purchase! Photo courtesy of Melany Mulligan.

In September 2017 we completed our first horse trials in the starter division at Dunnabeck Horse Trials, finishing 6th. I was thrilled! Finally, after years of hoping, dreaming and lessons I was able to say I showed at my home town event. Fast forward to January of this year; I found out she had strained a ligament in her front right leg. The treatment: three months of stall rest with 10 minute hand walks and three rounds of shockwave. I was crushed. The vet who diagnosed her is two hours away. I didn’t own a truck or trailer and the vet made farms calls to the barn but only about every two months, therefore prolonging our “vacation.” How was I ever going to accomplishing getting her these shockwave treatments? Especially in the middle of winter. Not to mention our ambitious plans for tackling the 2018 event season had just been put on hold.

After about 24 hours of crying (and a bottle or two of wine) I decided to take up an offer from a very dear friend of mine, Hillary. She had offered to help transport my pony and I to our assorted vet appointments and just like that there was small light at the end of the tunnel. At the end of January, we had our first shockwave treatment done. One down, two to go! Hillary and her husband Zander were amazing enough to take the day to drive us two hours and back for a 45-minute vet appointment. To this day I feel so grateful for having these two amazing people in my life. By now we had been hand walking for about a month and my pony was taking it all in stride. She thought she had won the lottery: get fed, get walked (with an occasional rear for added excitement), and get loved on. She was enjoying the “vacation.”

Competing at Dunnabeck Horse Trials in 2017. Photo courtesy of Melany Mulligan.

In February we had another appointment set up, this time at a local barn that our vet was visiting. While it wasn’t a two hour drive I was still truck and trailer-less. Luckily I was blessed with some amazing friends as Hillary and Zander agreed to help get us there. Two down, one to go! In March the vet was making a farm call to our barn, meaning no need to find a ride! All three shockwaves complete! The light at the end of the tunnel started to shine a little brighter. There was just one last appointment that needed to be tackled: the re-check. I went out on a limb and asked my trainer/barn owner, Jill, if she’d be able to give us a ride and she said yes!

Enjoying the “vacation” time. Photo courtesy of Melany Mulligan.

In April we went for our re-check. I was nervous. What if we still weren’t where we needed to be? What if we need more time off? It was a long car ride. Luckily, I had Jill there to ease my nerves. We got to the clinic and the vet watched her lunge and flexed her. “She looks great.” We did it! I was crying on the inside (and a little on the outside). We were prescribed saddle walking and slowly adding on trotting every day until she could be seen again for one last look before being put into full work.

After a month of saddle walking and light trot work she was finally released into full work. With much guidance from my trainer Jill, we slowly began tackling cantering and eventually got back to jumping. I had a completely different horse. She was so willing and happy about each ride, trying her heart out almost every day. Over the course of the next few months our riding developed immensely.

Our 2018 competition year was non-existent, not even one schooling show. But one thing I realized is how thankful I am for the amazing people and pony I have in my life. I’m thankful for the incredibly caring vets who answered every question I had and provided me with every option and line of treatment in order to have the happy pony I have today. I am thankful for my trainer Jill who went out of her way to take me to my appointment, answer every question I had, guide me in the rehab process, and continues to help me develop as a rider every day. I am thankful for Hillary and Zander for being there for me and taking time out of their lives to help out Rosebudd and I, we are both so grateful. I am thankful for all my friends who held me in the aisle of the barn as I cried after the diagnosis and answered every little question I had throughout the entire process. But I am most thankful for the little black pony that came into my life 3.5 years ago. She has taught me so much and helped me achieve dreams I never thought possible. She tries her heart out every day.  Without her I would not have met any of these amazing people.

Cross country schooling in July 2018. Photo courtesy of Melany Mulligan.

Here’s to the 2019 event season! We’re comin’ for ya!