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 ailing. Hoping simply to have him again to retire him, she introduced him residence – however he returned to competitors in type about 12 months in the past.
Lauren instructed H&H she wished to share Cookie’s story to provide hope to anybody in an identical state of affairs.
“He’s had a tricky few years, bless him,” she stated. “He’s bounced again like a miracle.”
Lauren’s mother and father purchased Cookie for her 10 years in the past, when she was a teen 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 trip Pepper!” she stated. “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 leap as I used to be a stick, a tiny little one.
“He was very robust, and I used to be afraid of him; I’ve received previous movie someplace of him rearing. However then it simply clicked someday, and we began doing a bit extra.”
Lauren stated 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 faculty and that was a turning level; I believed ‘cross-country is sort of enjoyable’ and ‘Perhaps I do wish to occasion’,” she stated. “We began doing British Eventing in 2020 and he was nice; clear throughout nation each occasion. He simply needs to go and go. Folks have stated conformationally, he shouldn’t be on the degree he’s however he loves it.”
However then Cookie appeared to be struggling to steadiness within the lorry, which “led us into a large minefield of what may be improper”.
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 degree.
Image by Aiden Upward
Then in March final 12 months, when Cookie was match and prepared for the season, he turned very ailing.
“He was falling over; he seemed like he was colicky however he wasn’t,” Lauren stated. “It was like his legs wouldn’t maintain up, and he was very wobbly so he went into the vets’. After we received 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 assume he would get well.
“All of us ready ourselves for the worst whereas the vets have been utterly baffled by Cookie’s signs. We had been instructed to organize to not trip once more, and I used to be utterly devastated but in addition simply wished Cookie to be residence safely.”
Check proved inconclusive and Cookie went residence with field relaxation suggested, however this was a wrestle for a pony who had been match and able to occasion.
Pondering that she “may need to think about a kinder possibility”, and having rung the vets, Lauren turned Cookie out, and he appeared to get well.
“He was okay so I attempted to trip him in stroll and he was dragging his legs, so I believed he wouldn’t come again,” Lauren stated. “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 a whole lot of info 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 understand how – I don’t even actually know what Bowen remedy is – however as a crew, 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 putting 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 stated. “He’s been persistently wonderful since, with BE100 double clears and clear throughout nation all season.”
However the large one was the Little Downham regional remaining in October.
“We had a extremely 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 stated. “My mum rang from Turkey and stated ‘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 received 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 stated. “I would like individuals to know his story as a result of I do know I’m biased however he’s essentially the most wonderful pony. Folks on the yard name him the comeback king as a result of he’s made the not possible doable. I name him a little bit of a strolling vet’s invoice! Nobody is aware of how he’s come again or what was improper with him, however he’s accomplished it, which is loopy.
“It’s a horrible feeling while you don’t know what’s improper so I hope sharing our story would possibly assist encourage others who may be having a troublesome time.”
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H&H information editor
Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Obsessed with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all features of the business, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, by which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by way of to worldwide championships.