In addition to the PEMF, leg spa and lasering treatment,
Hiberia received an injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP), which is a concentration of platelet cells taken from the horse’s own blood, along with maintenance doses of Ade- quan. The mare had regular appointments with an acupunc- turist and a chiropractor. After almost a year, Debi began riding Hiberia again. “We would take her to all the horse shows just to hack her around. It was good for her brain,” she says. “She really liked it.” At HITS Ocala in 2011, they found themselves back in the show ring. Unfortunately, the mare spooked at a tractor and came up lame again. They were faced with another setback when a small tear in the same check ligament called for more lay-up and rehab. But faith, patience and determination led them both back
to the ring once again. After more slow and steady reha- bilitation, Hiberia’s injury to her right front check ligament was healing more and more every day. Dr. Jill Copenhagen comments, “No matter what modalities we use to encour- age proper healing of an injury, nothing will replace stall rest and hand-walking, especially when it comes to soft- tissue injuries. These treatments are designed to improve the healing process and should only be used in the correct circumstances.” After approximately six months, they resumed light flat-
work and continued to increase her workload until she was ready for the next step. Debi knew that Hiberia would tell her when she was ready to jump again. One day in early 2012, she did just that when she literally jumped onto the trailer headed for the next show. Debi looked at David, she recounts, and said, “I think she’s ready.” For almost another year, Debi
patiently conditioned Hiberia and she continued to grow stronger and healthier. In early 2013, they were finally compet- ing in the jumper ring again. Hiberia Rouge and Debi Connor are currently showing at Level 4 (1.15 meters) with no plans of stopping anytime soon. “I’m just going to let her tell me what she needs to do,” Debi says about the mare’s future. “We’ll just take one step at a time.”
Debi and Hiberia
EVENTERWITH A BIG HEART | MADISON PARK Eventing is one of the most demanding of equestrian sports.
Horses are required to compete in three different disci- plines—dressage, jumping and cross country. These athletes are bold, fearless, strong and determined. When a serious injury occurs, there is no telling whether a horse can return to the same level of competition again. Canadian Kyle Carter, of Five Ring Stable in Citra, Florida, is well-known for his dedi- cation to his horses, his students and his riding career. He purchased Madison Park (Monaco Magic x Mistress of Mine), a seven-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in 2005. As soon as “Parker” became part of Carter Eventing, it was clear that he had the amount of “quirkiness” and enthusiasm Kyle was
28 September/October 2013
Kyle Carter and Madison Park at Red Hills in March of 2013, com- peting again.
looking for to take him to the top. The pair quickly became a force to be reckoned with and found themselves competing in the best of company all over the world. Their career high- lights include fifth place individually and a Canadian team silver at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2007, a spot on the Canadian team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a team silver at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010. They were thirteenth at Rolex in 2010, on their way to the rest of their exciting career together. Then, in September 2011, tragedy struck when Parker came off a jump at the Blenheim CIC3* in England holding his right hind leg in the air. Everyone held their breath wait- ing for news on Kyle’s competition partner. Was this the end of Madison Park’s career? On that day in England it was “Sad News After Blenheim
XC,” as Kyle titled his blog entry. “And so the dreams ended, all the hopes, work and sacrifice over, so many trips, events and accomplishments ending in a field like so many others that we’ve galloped across. To say that the day did not go to plan would be an understatement. It’s painful to write about this, but so many of you helped me along the way that you deserve a statement on it.” Kyle shared his emotions with the eventing world and told his supporters of the injury that caused him to pull up, mid-course, because something was terribly wrong. “He tweaked it just right,” Kyle said when describing what
happened. “He never hit the jump but I felt him take a wrong step.” This particular injury is quite rare, and not something that is necessarily “fixed.” Parker was immediately in pain, informing Kyle of this by attempting to kick out the walls of the trailer on the way back to the barn where he could be evaluated. After he was back in the stall, the veterinarian had a chance to assess him and determine the extent of the injury. Parker had torn a supportive ligament on the inside of his right hock, called a retinaculum tear, causing the tendon that runs along the back of the hock to slip to the outside of his leg. Kyle knew that this was a bad diagnosis, but he had
Samantha Clark
Laura McCormick
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