of her grooming routine and no longer seems out of the ordinary to me. Suki’s day consists of long days in a large grassy field with Nikki, daily grooming and exercise on the lunge a few times a week. Not a bad life for my miracle horse!
New Goals As Suki and I continue our journey together I hope that we can meet more burn survivors and perhaps be involved in the Wounded Warrior Equestrian program. I try to lunge her regularly because Suki seems to enjoy the work and happily shows off her lovely gaits! This spring I plan to work her in long lines, teaching the upper level movements of dressage in hand. A company called Success Equestrian generously sent one of their non-slip dressage pads for me to use with the lunging surcingle. If that experiment is successful, it is possible that I will next try a saddle. But even if the delicate skin on her back prevents me from riding her again, Suki is happy and healthy, which is all that really matters. My original goal with Suki was to
train her through the levels of dressage
and compete. That goal, of course, has completely changed. I have learned that there are no guarantees in life. Sometimes the journey we have started changes course and, although different, is no less valuable. Some were critical of my original decision to save Suki, but I know that it was the appropriate decision for our situation. She has no pain or discomfort as a result of the fire. I was prepared to have her euthanized if it any time during that early recovery period it ever became apparent that leaving this world would be in her best interest. But Suki bravely forged on. Something Dr. Kalf said in an early interview has stuck with me: “Suki lifted her head and we never looked back.” I believe that Suki survived for
Fran with Suki, fully recovered by the end of 2012.
many reasons: her own tenacity, excellent medical care from dedicated staff, strangers who reached out to offer time, energy and advice and the support of people around the world who understand that Suki was a life worth saving. Suki sends a message of hope and healing to both horse and human in her own unique way.
16 July/August 2013
Jennifer Curry Bandura
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