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A pony who was discovered with a severed tendon and crawling with lice at about six months previous has this month gained the prelim gold and general cob titles on the British Dressage Related Championships.

Katie Lee was overjoyed to win on KSL Lengthy Shot – so named as his survival hung within the steadiness at the beginning of his life.

Katie informed H&H she was working for the vet follow to which “Minty” was introduced as a months-old colt in early 2014.

“He was tiny,” Katie stated. “The lice and malnourishment have been apparent, and there was blood on his hind leg. It didn’t look too dangerous till it was clipped however the extensor tendon was utterly severed. He was standing together with his head pressed towards the wall, and I believed I’d by no means sen such a depressed horse.”

Minty’s case was mentioned and it was recommended that the kindest choice could be to place him down.

“It might have been tough to rehome him as he was so younger and with a extreme damage that wanted every day care,” Katie stated. “Who was going to need to take him together with his damage, and pay for it? However I’d been taking care of him day by day and I simply cherished him.

“Individuals have requested me what it was about this poor, mangled little factor, and it was his stunning face. He was terrified however I cherished him.”

Katie went dwelling to speak to her dad and mom, as “horses and competing are very a lot a household factor”.

“I stated ‘You’re going to suppose I’m barking however why don’t we rehome him?’” she stated. “I believe my dad was pondering I’d not lengthy purchased this beautiful warmblood to compete, and why did I desire a six-month-old 12hh cob with no tendon. I received it however each horse we’ve had has labored out.”

Katie spoke to all the correct folks, who have been completely satisfied for her to take Minty.

“Everybody was very clear it was an extended shot, which is the place his title got here from,” she stated. “Mates would say ‘Katie, that’s an extended shot; you may find yourself with a stunning pony otherwise you could be heartbroken’ however I stated ‘I’ll give it a go’. And inside a fortnight, it was evident he wished to stay.”

After intensive relaxation and remedy, Minty joined Katie’s different horses, and buddied up with Katie’s teenager Wally.

“He walked as much as Wally doing his little child chatter and put his head beneath his tummy and began sucking on his sheath,” Katie stated. “Wally was me like ‘Mum, what is that this and why’s it doing that?’ He ought to nonetheless have been together with his mum. He didn’t actually know what feed was, though that and sleep at the moment are his favorite issues.”

Minty thrived however was nonetheless tiny, Katie stated, and his “temperament was to die for; he’s a horse who ought to have been fearful of people, however he’s stunning”. He ultimately matured at 14hh, which meant she might journey him. He has a major scar on his leg and frequent physio and farrier visits however has by no means been lame.

He and Katie had executed some exhibiting, however had “no nice ambitions” on this space.

“I do dressage with my others however he’s a conventional cob, not a dressage horse,” she stated. “However then my dad and mom stated ‘You do dressage on a Welsh part D so why can’t he do it?’ and I believed ‘Too proper he can’!

“There’s a lot you are able to do, then British Dressage introduced out the related championships and I believed that was a superb concept. This yr I affiliated him and thought ‘Let’s give it a whirl and see what occurs’.”

What occurred was that in a couple of prelim checks, Minty certified for the championships, so that they made the five-hour journey from County Durham to Bury Farm.

“Off we went with no expectations.” Katie stated. “Within the take a look at, I used to be strolling spherical attempting to preserve his vitality, then the horn went and I picked him up, and thought ‘I’ve by no means sat on a trot like this, he’s completely received this’.

“My husband stated afterwards that he’d aced it, it was the very best take a look at he’d ever executed and I used to be saying ‘Cease it, his yr will probably be subsequent yr’.”

There was confusion over the scores however within the presentation, when sashes have been put not solely on Minty however on Katie too, she realised he had gained each titles.

“It was surreal,” she stated. “We’ve had plenty of success in BD and unaffiliated however there was one thing totally different about that day, and with the place he got here from in life, I actually felt he deserved it. It’s virtually unbelievable, remembering the place he was.”

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