Riding - Show goes on for Spot Check and Katie (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Riding - Show goes on for Spot Check and Katie

1:45pm Saturday 1st August 2009 in Sport By Gazette Sports

WHAT could have been a tragedy has turned into a dream come true for Katie Heginbotham, who will riding at the Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham this October.

Eighteen-year-old Katie, from Barrows Green, will partner the ten-year-old gelding Chiddock Spot Check in the 153cm working hunter final.

But it is remarkable that Spot Check is at the Show after sustaining a serious leg injury while out in a field.

The gelding suffered a deep cut on its front pastern, but fortunately it just missed the tendon ligaments and blood vessels, which, if affected, could have ended Spot Check’s career.

While waiting for the local veterinary surgeon, Katie had the good sense to flush the cut for at least 20 minutes, which turned out to be essential in keeping infection out of the wound.

estmorland Vets advised the family and Spot Check was booked as an emergency case into Leahurst Veterinary Hospital, who informed Katie that Spot Check was a lucky horse.

Her quick response, they said, saved infection getting into the tendon and prevented permanent damage being caused.

So from the brink of disaster, when it looked doubtful if Katie’s mount could be saved, he came back sound.

The Heginbothams nursed him back to full health and only three weeks after treatment he was back competing, better than ever.

Katie and Spot Check booked her Hoys ticket by finishing second and reserve champion at the North of England Show at Formby.

Katie is no stranger to HOYS, having been there with her other ponies Wrayton Monty and Whineray Beach Boy.

She has also qualified for next year’s Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Festival regional final to be held at Badminton, having qualified twice at Skipton and Hutton-in-the-Forest.

Katie’s busy schedule includes qualifying for the individual show jumping and team eventing at the Pony Club Championships at Draycott Manor in Derbyshire next month.

Alongside taking her A-levels at QES, Katie has also passed her BHS Stage 3 exam for horse care and riding.

Katie’s mother, Angela, said Katie was delighted with her successes, especially after Spot Check’s life-threatening injury.

Katie said: “After a sleepless night on May 2nd, I was thrilled to hear from the hospital the next morning how lucky he had been.

“He is such a character that I could not imagine losing him when we have so much more to do together!”