The landlord of a pony who has come again from 3 operations to excel within the dressage area mentioned he’s price each and every penny – and each and every hour – spent to get him again doing what he loves.
April Joynson and 17-year-old Bryntegllwynau Rocky Robin gained the affiliated fundamental and medium categories at Mendip Plains on 16 March. They’re additionally because of contest the fundamental silver on the Petplan Iciness Space Competition Championships subsequent month, having certified on Robin’s first display again after his closing operation.
April instructed H&H that vets gave the part-bred Welsh gelding just a 40% probability of returning to a ridden occupation after his first operation, main colic surgical operation, six years in the past.
“However that was once the least of our issues; we simply sought after to get him in the course of the surgical operation,” she mentioned. “I depend my fortunate stars as a result of it might were an overly other tale.”
April and Robin were in combination since she was once 12 and he was once 4.
“He’d completed a little of low-level pony racing; dressage definitely wasn’t on his radar!” April mentioned. “It wasn’t simple at the beginning – a 12-year-old child and a four-year-old pony – we had our ups and downs, but if I used to be about 14, and doing Pony Membership groups, we began entering dressage. He was once neatly balanced and we were given somewhat excellent rankings; we did coaching, something ended in some other and he’s long past from energy to energy.”
However there were various demanding situations alongside the best way. After the colic surgical operation, Robin had in depth rehab, returning to the sector a couple of yr and a part later.
“At our 2nd festival again, I hadn’t realised it was once a qualifier however we certified for the nationwide driving golf equipment championships, and got here 2nd,” April mentioned. “He were given more potent and more potent; I couldn’t imagine, after that vast surgical operation, that I had my pony again, let on my own having the ability to compete once more.”
However in 2022, Robin wanted some other operation, for a forelimb palmar annular ligament. Then closing yr, he needed to have the similar process on each hind legs.
“He’s rinsed my checking account as he’s no longer insured!” April mentioned. “However he’s price each and every penny.”
April added that she and Robin had accomplished the rankings they wanted for qualification to the Puppy Plans earlier than the surgical operation.
“Once I heard the time he would wish off, I believed it might by no means occur,” she mentioned. “However he got here again sturdy and the vets mentioned to crack on – so my first festival again was once the qualifier, and he simply rose to the instance. He held first position for ages, then one of the vital closing couple of riders went previous us, however to come back 2nd and get that golden price tag – I cried within the prizegiving as a result of simply to be there was once a surprise.”
April mentioned she hopes her tale might inspire others.
“It’s by no means undeniable crusing,” she mentioned. “You best see the great things on social media; it’s no longer all the time simple however in case you’re ready to stay it out and do the rehab correctly, it’s price it. My little £4,000 pony is price one million bucks to me and I wouldn’t switch him for the sector.”
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