11/08/2021
I am devastated and heartbroken to say the least. After my accident last year, I have poured my heart and soul into getting back into riding and training. I planned on walking into the ATFO and finish what I started in 2020. Suri was my first choice to compete with, a blank slate. After 90 days of training this filly, I was ready to complete with all the confidence in the world. Suri has been one of the best and easiest horses I have ever started. And even though I had my heart set on this competition, horse rescue is unpredictable and alone, is competitive enough just to save these horses in need. I still plan on walking into that ATFO with Suri with all the confidence I had in the beginning, not with any intention to win any ribbons or prizes, but with Suri’s wellbeing put first,I know I’ve already won. Appalachian Trainer Face Off
It never fails that the closer we get to the event date, the unexpected happens.
Last year, mid way through the event, AM. Trainer, Vania Carr, had an accident on her personal horse that took her out to the competition with
She ultimately adopted him at the 2020 event, and she said she would be back for 2021, and true to her word, she came back to compete this year.
She selected Suri, a filly born into the rescue from a very aged mine horse mare from Inez, Ky.
She had made amazing progress with this little filly, and they were going to be a super team.
Unfortunately, Suri started experiencing concerning neurological symptoms and visited Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital yesterday. While we are waiting on definitive diagnosis, the vet suspects EPM. She is a 3 year old, and so we have started her on treatment as of yesterday, and Dr. Gilsenan feels she is a great candidate for total recovery and unlikely to experience future episodes based on age and how quickly treatment was started, as well as how this case presented.
This means no riding for this little mare for a few weeks, which unless something changes with diagnosis, she will be in hand at the ATFO and not adoptable right now (for those that may not know, EPM is not contagious between horses and a horse cannot pass the disease on to other animals).
This is so unexpected and SO very disappointing all around for her trainer and her support system.
But that said, this little horse WILL recover and be adoptable in the future with Vania at Full Circle Stables.
And I think, given the world wide view on equestrians NOT making the right horses for horses in competitions right now, we can all celebrate when trainers and riders DO make good choices for the horses in their care, and that is what is happening here.
No matter what, do the right thing by the horse.
