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Meet Caroline and Monty

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Meet a One Club member is back, and this month we meet Caroline and her horse Monty. Sometimes you meet people and they inspire you. You’re not sure why or how but as soon as we had dialogue with Caroline in our Facebook inbox a couple of years ago, we knew there was something inspiring about this incredible lady. We can’t wait to share this story with you, one of positivity, faith and following your gut. Over to you Caroline:



I would very much like to thank Harry Hall for inviting me to write a blog about myself, a nearly 50 year old, horse mad girl at heart, who has never grown up and my amazing horse Monty, a cheeky, rescued 19 year old ex racehorse.


My love affair and passion for horses started as a child. Being the eldest daughter of a National Hunt jockey turned trainer meant that I was placed on the back of a horse before I could walk and as far back as I can remember, horses were always in my life. I didn’t have dolls, instead playing with ponies and as you can imagine, horses took priority in our household. My sister was nearly named after the Classic Oaks winner which she shares her birthday with but, my mother drew the line at that! I breathed, dreamed and smelt of horses through my childhood, I have memories of going to school with shavings on my socks and hay in my hair. All that mattered to me though, was that my ponies were mucked out, happy and ready to go when I got home. As I got older, I would help my dad with the racehorses, and I guess this is where my passion for the majestic beauty of the thoroughbred horse developed.


I was aiming to get my training apprenticeship, but life and relationships change. As I’m sure many of you reading this know, life has a habit of growing and moving on as years pass, almost without you noticing. I flew the nest to have my own family but terribly missed the horses, the pull was too strong so eventually I moved back to the racing yard with the intention of becoming an assistant trainer. The long-term aim was to run the yard alongside my father.


Life was ticking along nicely, until one spring day at a racecourse I was waiting to collect a saddle from the jockey room, watching the hustle and bustle of the jockeys go by and hearing the horses hooves clatter by I was in my element. Then came the nightmare, that afternoon I got a phone call to say that I had a very rare neuroendocrine cancer. I had been feeling poorly but cancer, surely not me? After enduring endless tests, horrendous long hours of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, it is now classed as incurable. We don’t use the word terminal. I now live with my new friend cancer by my side, I’m beating the odds and I’m sure it’s because us horsey girls are made of strong stuff and have wills of iron. Then Monty pitched up in my life. I needed something of my own to give me purpose, I wasn’t going to give in to the limited time the doctors gave me and wasn’t ready to give up my life dreams to just stay at home.

 

I was surfing the internet in the middle of the night, the pain so strong and intense I couldn’t sleep. Feeling frustrated I was browsing horses for sale. Monty’s picture appeared on a rehoming and rescue site and a flame flickered in my heart. I had to see him, I had to know more about this horse. A few weeks later and he came to live with me, no words can describe how much he has helped me. Our bond is so strong and right from the off, it has felt so special. Somehow, we just knew we needed each other. After doing some research I found out he had raced over flat and hurdles, but it wasn’t for him. His passion, as I have found out, is eating, relaxing, sleeping, sun-bathing and being cheeky to entertain his “human”. We hack out and dream we are leading the string up the gallops and playing racehorse games like winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Monty is treated like a pampered prince and wants for nothing, his life has turned around, he has got his mojo and cheeky personality back. I feel like I have restored his faith and love in humans, I’ve treated him to the wonderful Protechmasta range to help with his stiffness and puffy legs, we wouldn’t have managed without it this winter.

 

Since having Monty together we have done a few firsts, won a sash at our local show and attended our first camp. I have never smiled so much, I was so incredibly proud of Monty. He tried his heart out at everything, and I’m sure he thought he was back racing at times! Monty has given me so much, words don’t do him justice, how many Oncologists ask their patients about their horse first? He has his own section in my medical file, my consultant knows that if Monty is OK, I am managing.

 

So, here’s to our story of adventures continuing, Monty and I take it day by day, step by step. Some days I find it hard but living with cancer is easier with Monty by my side. The dark, painful and depressing days don’t seem so bad when I hug him. With me, he has a home for life and for as long as I can, Monty and I will walk down the sunny lane towards the winning post of the race they call life.

 

Thank you to all my lovely family and friends for helping me deal with my cancer diagnoses and helping with Monty, you all mean the world to me.

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