Congratulations to Olivia and Honey: An Update on "My Horse Buying Mistake"
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Mar 7, 2012
Rob's View from the Passenger Seat
Rob Koontz, DVM
In an earlier blog, "My Horse Buying Mistake", I detailed how I came to own Honey. To summarize, Honey is an American Quarter Horse mare that is very accomplished in the show ring. She also has navicular syndrome, a chronic forelimb lameness associated with several structures in the foot. Why would I buy I horse with navicular syndrome? Because I wanted Honey to teach Olivia how to show horses, because my wife believed that I could keep Honey sound, and most importantly because Olivia loved her. This blog is an update on our first year together.
The season started great. Honey knew her job and did it well. Despite some "Olivia moments" in which Olivia forgot her pattern, my daughter was learning to do her job and learning to do it well. Olivia of course loved Honey. I believe Honey also loved Olivia. Honey genuinely wanted to work for her little girl. In return Olivia treated Honey with love and respect, she did not jab her with sharp spurs nor rip at her mouth with a harsh bit. The team was starting to gel.
Then in June it was my turn to become part of the team. Days before the Indiana State show and the Indianapolis Horse Show Circuit Honey started to show lameness. This was my fear, just as Olivia was starting to count on Honey her feet would fail. I was anxious, how could I make her sound when so many had failed?
Combining my knowledge as a veterinarian and my desperation as a father I threw the book at Honey. Honey had every treatment for navicular syndrome known to modern medicine in the span of a few days. It worked! Honey was sound and able to compete. In fact they won several circuit awards and the Indiana State Show Small Fry All-around Award. Honey hasn't taken a lame step since.
They finished the year and got better with each show. There were occasional "Olivia moments" but when the season was over Olivia and Honey had won Indiana Quarter Horse Associations awards:
1st Small Fry Showmanship
1st Small Fry Hunter Under Saddle
1st Small Fry Equitation
1st Small Fry Western Pleasure
1st Small Fry Trail
2nd Small Fry Horsemanship
AND
Small Fry All-Around Grand Champion
Where do we go from here? As expected we are trying for another year. Honey and Olivia are taking off from where they ended last year. If Dad can keep her sound they should have a great year.
Wish us luck!
