A COMPETITION rider, who brought her own lame horse back from the brink of being retired, has taken over the running of Minster Veterinary Equine Clinic’s Ripon unit.
As well as overseeing routine veterinary treatment of horses, Katie Brickman has a particular interest in orthopaedics and the performance of sport horses. She is due to complete her Advanced Equine Practice Certificate in Equine Orthopaedics in April.
Malton-born Katie, who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2013, also has a first-hand insight into the performance of competition horses as she is an accomplished event rider and well-known name on the local eventing circuit with her horses, Flash and Mary.
She knows only too well how competition riders feel when their horses suffer lameness as she feared six-year-old Flash would not recover from a rare injury he suffered in his field.
Katie, who has worked at Minster Vets in York for five years, said: “He was very lame on his left hind leg and, following diagnostics, it was discovered he had split his middle patella ligament.
“This is an extremely rare injury and of the very few cases I have found – most of which are from America – the horses have not done well. I was told Flash may never be sound again, never mind event again. But 11 months later, he is sound following nine months of box rest and a careful exercise schedule.
“He is going from strength to strength as, although I am taking it slowly, I am now hopeful we may make it to an event at the end of the season.”
Katie has state-of-the-art facilities and equipment at her disposal at Minster’s Ripon clinic at Cowmyers Farm in Galphay, including a treatment room, x-ray, scanner, gastroscope for inspecting the interior of the stomach, outdoor and indoor schools and a concrete area for trotting up so she can detect problems.
She added: “I’m really enjoying the move to our Ripon clinic and have already met some lovely clients and their horses.
“We have amazing facilities and it is a fantastic unit to help clients with lameness issues or those with gastric ulcers.”
Minster Veterinary Equine Clinic has three units in York, Ripon and Malton, serving North Yorkshire’s equestrian and racing community.