An owner has shared the inspirational story of her horse’s recovery from “death’s door” to “ultimate all-rounder”.
Martina Wright took on the standardbred two years ago, and said he was in a poor condition, riddled with lice and ulcers, and barely able to stand.
Preacher required urgent veterinary attention in his early days with Martina. The gelding had got stuck lying down in his stable and had to be held up for 48 hours and nursed back to health.
Eventually he was able to start light work with Martina, who had purchased him with intentions of keeping his a companion.
“I never thought he would be a riding horse but his talent was naturally there,” she told Your Horse. “He tries and tries and picked up everything really easily.”
At the now 12-year-old’s third show with Martina, he picked up a third at Burgham International Horse Trials in the 1m class.
“It was definitely unexpected,” she said. “I had another horse entered but I sold her two days before so I thought I’d put him in and see how he goes. He seemed to jump better as the jumps got bigger, taking on the second round of the 1m, jumping 1.10. Proud is an understatement.”
Martina said Preacher is now the “ultimate all-rounder” and she hopes his story gives other people the inspiration to consider off-the-track standardbreds.
“He is fit as a fiddle now,” she said. “I know his story is sad but I’m hoping it will give people the idea to give standardbreds a chance.
“People look at Preacher and they say, ‘I want one!’ I’ve been offered £8,000 for him but wouldn’t take anything, he owes me nothing.”
