Rolex Injury Update: Mighty Nice Will Not Need Surgery

Mighty Nice grazes with Emma Ford. Photo via Phillip Dutton. Mighty Nice grazes with Emma Ford. Photo via Phillip Dutton.

We posted a Rolex injury update last week on Mighty Nice, who was withdrawn from the event due to soreness on his stifle following cross country. It was discovered that “Happy,” an 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, had a small bone chip on his stifle.

While the horse was originally meant to undergo a routine surgical procedure yesterday to remove the chip, the vets at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center ultimately decided to skip surgery, as the chip is outside the joint and should heal on its own.

“Happy came right back home to the farm and has been upgraded to a three week period of rest. The prognosis remains extremely good,” Phillip said on his Facebook page. “We are so grateful to everyone for sending your well wishes and good thoughts to Happy. They definitely worked. He’ll be back out there doing what he loves soon.”

While the originally scheduled surgery was minor with a positive prognosis for full recovery, it’s nonetheless a relief that Happy will be able to enjoy some downtime while he recovers in preparation for a fall campaign.

We wish Happy a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back out competing this fall.

[Phillip Dutton Eventing on Facebook]