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I’m so thrilled to be again on this journey with America’s Finest Racing, striving for this yr’s Thoroughbred Makeover with my gelding Bronn. I final blogged for ABR in 2021, as I used to be bringing alongside my mare Pied N True for the Makeover, residing down in Texas. There’s an inside understanding amongst RRP alumni that the Makeover can and can change your life… I had no concept how true this was and the way my life would change eternally.
To summarize: We made it to the Makeover in 2021. Pied took me farther than I’d have ever imagined. I met some unimaginable women, two of whom are members of the Arapahoe Hunt Membership outdoors of Denver. I watched Autumn Sorenson compete her mare, Ms. Battlefield (aka Thistle, who ended up second), within the Discipline Hunter’s mock hunt on a stunning, foggy Kentucky morning. Quick ahead to later that yr, I joined on a hunt (driving Thistle), inflicting me to fall in love with the game and transfer to Colorado for a sabbatical from Texas. We then created a workforce, the Inexperienced Thumb Thoroughbreds, and introduced two geldings to the 2022 Makeover. To not point out, due to my expertise on the Makeover with Pied, I used to be hooked and wished to strive once more with a person horse, with the intention of stated horse to be a gross sales mission (Sure, all who know me can chuckle. Why I believed I’d ever have the ability to promote a horse…)
Enter Bronn.
Due to my journey with Pied, I turned pals together with her assistant observe coach. There’s no easy strategy to describe that unimaginable mare… perhaps that she has as many personalities as she has colours (she has very distinctive coloring for a Thoroughbred). So having a human ally educated about her character was a HUGE assist and plenty of enjoyable as her coaching progressed. She works on the tracks in Southern California, and once I acquired a message from her with details about this tall (I imply 17 fingers TALL), darkish and good-looking gelding named Bronn who was prepared for a brand new profession, it was love at first sight. She put me in contact together with his connections and he turned a Valentine’s Day reward to myself and initially a 2022 Makeover hopeful. I couldn’t have imagined a greater (and gelded) man to enter my life!
Bronn belonged to, and nonetheless is deeply beloved by, Jill Baffert. She was, and nonetheless is, extraordinarily concerned in his rehoming and journey. I used to be instructed that he was named after a favourite “Sport of Thrones” character, and I can see why.
A pair weeks after his arrival, whereas brushing his tail (like I had many instances prior), I felt a brand new lump. It’s in my nature to panic about something that may very well be mistaken with my horses, so I known as the vet and he or she got here that week to take away and ship the mass for biopsy. At that time, he was simply 5 and as sturdy and wholesome as wholesome as may very well be. Properly…I’ll always remember the cellphone name, “Meghan. It’s most cancers and it’s dangerous.” It was malignant melanoma, extremely deadly in younger bays.
This melanoma is such a freak factor, rising and spreading in a single day – there’s NO WAY this was an oversight from his prior connections. When Bronn arrived, he was in excellent situation and so sound. He had only recently received and was prepared for his subsequent chapter. I’ve by no means in my life been round such an impressive animal and to assume that I’d be his new rider… it’s nonetheless a dream come true.
My vet, Dr. Piper Norton, a prime equine internist, got here up with a plan, touchdown on Co2 lasering the margins of the tumor and placing him on an aggressive Oncept Melanoma Vaccine remedy with radiation being subsequent if and when wanted. I misplaced a lot sleep deciding if I ought to inform his earlier proprietor, however as a result of he was and remains to be so beloved, I in the end selected to share the information as soon as our remedy plan was underway. It’s no shock that Jill has been so graciously supportive and continues to test in on each of us. I couldn’t think about a greater observe proprietor – she really cares greater than I can relay in phrases. I’ve been across the tracks nearly all of my life, and I’ve but to satisfy an proprietor and a barn that cares for his or her horses at such a excessive stage.
As a result of his restoration got here first, I made a decision to scratch Bronn from the 2022 Makeover and determined that ought to the whole lot go nicely, we’d look to enter 2023’s competitors. His final race would make him eligible for ‘23, so I figured there was no rush! Properly right here we’re, a yr later, and he continues to beat the percentages. I don’t at the moment have a plan on which self-discipline like I did with Pied. I plan to let him inform me what he enjoys doing within the subsequent few months. It has been a BRUTAL winter right here in Colorado, which has allowed for a sluggish restart. Thus far, I’ve a handful of rides on him and now we have executed a pair outings: a pair path rides together with a unicorn-themed journey on his birthday (so if he can put up with me by means of that, we could have an opportunity!), an tour to the hunt, and a little bit cross rail clinic. He’s daring, courageous {and professional}.
Although I haven’t watched an episode of “Sport of Thrones,” I’m instructed that Bronn is a jovial fighter to not be messed with. Properly, there positive isn’t a greater strategy to describe him, and I do know he’ll maintain combating! Up right here in Colorado, he’s underneath the watchful eye of Dr. Melissa Fenn. We’re so fortunate to know such marvelous equine internists! Photos definitely don’t do that horse justice. He has essentially the most wonderful character, an absolute light large. Nothing appears to section him. He’s the kind of horse that, if you end up driving, you’re feeling like you may conquer the world. I’m past excited and grateful for the chance to deliver such a horse alongside and I’ll do the whole lot in my energy to do proper by him. There’s not an opportunity I’d have the ability to half with him, and realizing that he’s going to be in my herd eternally makes this journey much more particular. I’m excited to share this journey with you all, as I’m additionally trying to deliver Pied alongside for the TIP Championships throughout Makeover week!
