Hollywood Dancer recovers from severe harm to turn out to be broodmare

Eventer Hollywood Dancer, who was positioned at four-star, has made a exceptional restoration from a severe harm and will probably be put in foal this 12 months.

Rider Dani Evans defined that “Holly” was out on grass livery following a small harm – “a tiny niggle” – within the spring of final 12 months when she suffered a freak accident within the discipline.

“I had a name to say I wanted to get there rapidly and after I noticed her it was fairly a shock to see the injury,” Dani instructed H&H. “We expect one thing had gone alongside her ribcage and facet, so there was an enormous laceration and it had pierced a lung. It was fairly horrendous to see – and listen to as a result of it had gone into the lung.”

“We had a decide [on whether to put her down] and it wasn’t straightforward standing in a muddy discipline on high of a hill. She is owned by Ann Butler, an unimaginable woman who has been an proprietor with me for about 15 years. She was on vacation and I couldn’t pay money for her for what appeared like hours, however was in all probability solely actually 10 minutes.”

Ann stated to Dani to observe the vets’ steerage, and though it was clear the then 11-year-old mare’s ridden profession was over, the vets felt she may very well be saved.

“You couldn’t have a greater broodmare, so it was price going by way of the method, though she went by way of numerous issues. She’s properly now and having a pleasant life so it fully proves it was the best determination, nevertheless it was a protracted gradual course of,” stated Dani.

Holly spent 4 months in a veterinary hospital and Dani paid tribute to B&W Equine Vets, particularly Dicky Hepburn, and Lizzie Kopec, a Bristol vet pupil who saved a horse at Dani’s yard and who was working on the vets.

“She was very useful with communication and figuring out Holly,” she stated.

Holly then went for rehabilitation at Sarah George’s Workforce Inexperienced Horses.

Dani stated: “What Sarah did was superb – she took a horse who appeared fairly skinny and unwell and inside weeks had her trying properly with a shiny coat. Holly was additionally very fortunate to have an proprietor like Ann, and I can’t thank her sufficient for sticking with it. It was beautiful to see an proprietor show how a lot the horses imply to them – not the weekends away and outcomes, however the horse turning into a part of the household.”

Hollywood Dancer returned to Dani’s yard in December and is now going out within the discipline in the course of the day and staying in at night time.

Dani began a small breeding programme final 12 months and can now work with Ann to breed from Holly. The purpose is to do that as a enterprise and promote her offspring, however Ann will maintain one herself to occasion. They plan to place her in foal this spring they usually can also do an embryo switch.

Hollywood Dancer is by the Contender grandson Dantos out of a mare by Numero Uno. In her eventing profession she received 10 occasions, together with being British five-year-old champion and taking worldwide courses at CCI* (now CCI2*-L) and CCI3*-L, and completed fifth at Chatsworth and tenth at Bramham and Burnham Market at CCI4*-S degree.

“I need to discover a stallion that makes up for the small issues she lacks so I’m asking numerous educated folks,” says Dani, who’s contemplating Amira Z or Diamant De Semilly.

“She does lack blood however I don’t need to go to one thing too thoroughbred initially as I would like one thing that may bounce and I need to see how properly her offspring maintain her bounce. She was not a horse to really feel drained, however we by no means received the prospect to see if she could be blood sufficient to do it on the high degree.

“She has an incredible mind so it doesn’t matter if the sire is a bit sharper. We’re lucky she has the very best temperament and perspective to work; she’s been a winner all through her profession and I wouldn’t thoughts one other 10 Hollys in my secure.”

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H&H journal editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L degree, and has labored within the trade on a high occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest degree, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.