A pony referred to as the “comeback king” – and “a strolling vet’s invoice” – has overwhelmed kissing spines and a severe sickness to qualify for the LeMieux Grassroots Championships at Mars Badminton Horse Trials, at his first try.
Lauren Wiggins thought she must let her 14.2hh Irish pony Cookie Clover go, early final 12 months, as vets didn’t know what had made him so in poor health. Hoping simply to have him again to retire him, she introduced him residence – however he returned to competitors in model about 12 months in the past.
Lauren instructed H&H she wished to share Cookie’s story to provide hope to anybody in the same scenario.
“He’s had a tricky few years, bless him,” she mentioned. “He’s bounced again like a miracle.”
Lauren’s dad and mom purchased Cookie for her 10 years in the past, when she was a young person who had outgrown her beloved 11.2hh pony Pepper and he was a six-year-old who had come over from Eire.
“I cried when he first got here as a result of I didn’t need one other pony; I solely wished to experience Pepper!” she mentioned. “He was a little bit of a handful; I’d gone from a Welsh part A to him, which was a little bit of a bounce as I used to be a stick, a tiny little one.
“He was very sturdy, and I used to be frightened of him; I’ve acquired outdated movie someplace of him rearing. However then it simply clicked sooner or later, and we began doing a bit extra.”
Lauren mentioned the intention had been to showjump however then she did a little bit of cross-country.
“I used to be fortunate sufficient to work on an eventing yard after school and that was a turning level; I believed ‘cross-country is kind of enjoyable’ and ‘Perhaps I do need to occasion’,” she mentioned. “We began doing British Eventing in 2020 and he was nice; clear throughout nation each occasion. He simply needs to go and go. Individuals have mentioned conformationally, he shouldn’t be on the stage he’s however he loves it.”
However then Cookie gave the impression to be struggling to stability within the lorry, which “led us into an enormous minefield of what is likely to be flawed”.
Arthritis was discovered and handled, then vets found he had kissing spines. Cookie was medicated and underwent a complete rehab programme, and was eventing once more in 2022, leaping clear and ending within the prime 10 at BE90 and BE100 stage.
Image by Aiden Upward
Then in March final 12 months, when Cookie was match and prepared for the season, he turned very in poor health.
“He was falling over; he appeared like he was colicky however he wasn’t,” Lauren mentioned. “It was like his legs wouldn’t maintain up, and he was very wobbly so he went into the vets’. Once we acquired there and opened up the trailer, there have been inches of water the place he’d sweated a lot. The vets took him away as they didn’t suppose he would get better.
“All of us ready ourselves for the worst whereas the vets had been utterly baffled by Cookie’s signs. We had been instructed to arrange to not experience once more, and I used to be utterly devastated but additionally simply wished Cookie to be residence safely.”
Check proved inconclusive and Cookie went residence with field relaxation suggested, however this was a battle for a pony who had been match and able to occasion.
Pondering that she “may need to think about a kinder choice”, and having rung the vets, Lauren turned Cookie out, and he appeared to get better.
“He was okay so I attempted to experience him in stroll and he was dragging his legs, so I believed he wouldn’t come again,” Lauren mentioned. “I turned him away however in about September, I used to be watching movies and knew how a lot I wished him again. I referred to as an animal communicator and requested if she would ‘speak’ to him. Lots of people thought I used to be mad however she gave me loads of data and really helpful a Bowen therapist close to me.
“I had nothing to lose so I contacted her. And she or he actually labored magic. I don’t know the way – I don’t even actually know what Bowen remedy is – however as a group, with chiropractors, saddlers and dentists, by December he was cantering once more – and loving it.”
By the beginning of this 12 months, Lauren was competing once more, successful and inserting in dressage and showjumping, so within the spring she registered with BE once more.
“His first occasion was Munstead BE90 and he got here third,” she mentioned. “He’s been constantly superb since, with BE100 double clears and clear throughout nation all season.”
However the large one was the Little Downham regional ultimate in October.
“We had a very good dressage, then went clear showjumping; I had tears in my eyes popping out of the world as a result of cross-country is his factor,” Lauren mentioned. “My mum rang from Turkey and mentioned ‘No matter you do, don’t go too slowly’, and I ended up seven seconds too quick! I used to be actually cross with myself, got here fourth and thought it was throughout.”
However final week, she acquired the information that the highest 15% within the class had certified, so she and Cookie had their place at Badminton.
“It’s unbelievable, from the place he was final 12 months,” Lauren mentioned. “I would like individuals to know his story as a result of I do know I’m biased however he’s probably the most superb pony. Individuals on the yard name him the comeback king as a result of he’s made the not possible attainable. I name him a little bit of a strolling vet’s invoice! Nobody is aware of how he’s come again or what was flawed with him, however he’s accomplished it, which is loopy.
“It’s a horrible feeling whenever you don’t know what’s flawed so I hope sharing our story may assist encourage others who is likely to be having a tough time.”
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