TESTIMONIAL - SPOT

SPOT

Written by Tracie Crombie 5th December 2008

Spot is a 17h Hannovarian who started his life in the UK as a 3 year old, where he spent a year with Nicola McGivern. My name is Tracie and I am Spot's second private owner.

I purchased Spot as a 5 ½ year old because my yard manager loved him – he didn’t tick any of the boxes on our wish list, except for the fact that I did not fall off him when I tried him!

Since I have owned Spot, he has qualified 2nd round British Novice (BSJA) and qualified Pet Plan Areas Finals, British Dressage (2007) where he came 9th.

In April 2008 he won a wild card to the Winter National Championships at Hartbury. Sadly, three days before the event Spot went lame from a cracked hoof that then escalated over a period of weeks. After much ‘cutting’ of the hoof wall and proud flesh, he was referred to Scott Dunn's practice in Binfield. Spot had an infection above his coronary band which resulted in surgery on his foot in July 2008.

Spot then returned home where he was on box rest followed by 5 minutes of walking which was then built up over a period of time. By the end of September 2008, I was struggling with the shortening daylight hours and working in London and trying to maintain a big poorly horse who had not eaten any grass since February and who spent 23 ½ hours a day in his stable. Plus the additional worry of why he was not appearing to be getting any better.

The owner of my yard gave me Jo Kerner's number at Headingly Recuperation Centre whose yard had recently opened. I called her that night. It was a done deal. The stables was located just 5 minutes from my house. Headlingley Recuperation Centre was a lifeline for a very tired, financially struggling owner with an equally depressed but extremely patient horse who spent a lot of time in pain.

As a hands-on owner, it was very hard to go to a yard and ‘hang around’, so I convinced Jo to let me do little jobs, which then made me feel I had a real purpose again. Having spent so much time with Spot and feeling that to some extent his slow recovery was my responsibility, I was not ready to just let go and hand his welfare completely into someone elses hands.

However, Jo humoured me with picture messages when I was in London and cups of tea when I was at the yard and her clear affection and commitment to Spots welfare soon made me relax.

Since Spot has been at Headlingley Recuperation Centre he has not been without continued injury in the form of an abscess which Scott Dunn's surgery has continued to treat. However, with the use of the indoor horsewalker, a large, sunny stable, walking up and down the quiet driveway and lots of TLC from a caring family, Spot has continued to make good progress in a very calm, professional and loving environnment.

Jo took Spot and his injury on as one of her own. My worries became hers, and at the same time she was great to share ideas which have resulted in the continued good progress.

This weekend (5th December 08) has been a real milestone for Spot and me. I finally got to put a saddle on him and Jo, Helena (who helps at the yard) and their horses safely escorted us around the block for 20 minutes. Spot was big and keen and marched down the road!

I don’t plan anything these days – each day as it comes for the foreseeable future. Spot still has an abscess hole under his shoe and we have to keep an eye on this for the next couple of weeks to ensure there are no signs of further infection.

We will keep you updated so keep your fingers crossed for him!

On behalf of Spot we would like to thank Jo and her family for their continued support of our progress. Long may it continue.