‘He deserves this’: pony discovered with severed tendon at six months previous wins two nationwide dressage titles

A pony who was discovered with a severed tendon and crawling with lice at about six months previous has this month gained the prelim gold and total cob titles on the British Dressage Related Championships.

Katie Lee was overjoyed to win on KSL Lengthy Shot – so named as his survival hung within the steadiness firstly of his life.

Katie advised H&H she was working for the vet observe to which “Minty” was introduced as a months-old colt in early 2014.

“He was tiny,” Katie stated. “The lice and malnourishment have been apparent, and there was blood on his hind leg. It didn’t look too dangerous till it was clipped however the extensor tendon was fully severed. He was standing along with his head pressed towards the wall, and I assumed I’d by no means sen such a depressed horse.”

Minty’s case was mentioned and it was advised that the kindest choice may be to place him down.

“It could have been tough to rehome him as he was so younger and with a extreme damage that wanted day by day care,” Katie stated. “Who was going to wish to take him along with his damage, and pay for it? However I’d been taking care of him day-after-day and I simply beloved him.

“Folks have requested me what it was about this poor, mangled little factor, and it was his stunning face. He was terrified however I beloved him.”

Katie went house to speak to her dad and mom, as “horses and competing are very a lot a household factor”.

“I stated ‘You’re going to assume I’m barking however why don’t we rehome him?’” she stated. “I feel my dad was considering I’d not lengthy purchased this beautiful warmblood to compete, and why did I need a six-month-old 12hh cob with no tendon. I bought it however each horse we’ve had has labored out.”

Katie spoke to all the precise folks, who have been completely happy for her to take Minty.

“Everybody was very clear it was an extended shot, which is the place his identify got here from,” she stated. “Pals would say ‘Katie, that’s an extended shot; you would possibly find yourself with a stunning pony otherwise you may be heartbroken’ however I stated ‘I’ll give it a go’. And inside a fortnight, it was evident he wished to dwell.”

After in depth relaxation and remedy, Minty joined Katie’s different horses, and buddied up with Katie’s teen Wally.

“He walked as much as Wally doing his little child chatter and put his head beneath his tummy and began sucking on his sheath,” Katie stated. “Wally was me like ‘Mum, what is that this and why’s it doing that?’ He ought to nonetheless have been along with his mum. He didn’t actually know what feed was, though that and sleep are actually his favorite issues.”

Minty thrived however was nonetheless tiny, Katie stated, and his “temperament was to die for; he’s a horse who ought to have been scared of people, however he’s stunning”. He ultimately matured at 14hh, which meant she may journey him. He has a major scar on his leg and frequent physio and farrier visits however has by no means been lame.

He and Katie had finished some displaying, however had “no nice ambitions” on this space.

“I do dressage with my others however he’s a conventional cob, not a dressage horse,” she stated. “However then my dad and mom stated ‘You do dressage on a Welsh part D so why can’t he do it?’ and I assumed ‘Too proper he can’!

“There’s a lot you are able to do, then British Dressage introduced out the related championships and I assumed that was a superb thought. This yr I affiliated him and thought ‘Let’s give it a whirl and see what occurs’.”

What occurred was that in a number of prelim exams, Minty certified for the championships, so that they made the five-hour journey from County Durham to Bury Farm.

“Off we went with no expectations.” Katie stated. “Within the check, I used to be strolling spherical making an attempt to preserve his power, then the horn went and I picked him up, and thought ‘I’ve by no means sat on a trot like this, he’s completely bought this’.

“My husband stated afterwards that he’d aced it, it was the very best check he’d ever finished and I used to be saying ‘Cease it, his yr might be subsequent yr’.”

There was confusion over the scores however within the presentation, when sashes have been put not solely on Minty however on Katie too, she realised he had gained each titles.

“It was surreal,” she stated. “We’ve had numerous success in BD and unaffiliated however there was one thing totally different about that day, and with the place he got here from in life, I actually felt he deserved it. It’s virtually unbelievable, remembering the place he was.”

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