Julie McKean Turns Heartache Into Team Silver Medal
Equestrian News Release
Jupiter, FL— Julie McKean has interesting fortune. Earlier this year she was well on her way to qualifying her horse Stravinsky to the USEF Junior Team Championships to be held in Pebble Beach, California. As horse luck would have it, her mount got hurt. Surprisingly, ready to take the place was Julie’s 17-year-old KWPN Gelding Hicarlos, a horse that Julie pulled out of the Junior Championships in Pebble Beach at last minute in 2004 when it was discovered that he was suffering from a debilitating case of EPM.
After treatment with the medication Navigator and a rigorous rehabilitation program of swimming, treadmill work and Jacuzzi therapy, Hicarlos was back under saddle when Julie realized that he was needed for the championships. “After his rehabilitation we started him back slowly,” Julie explains. “This spring he started stepping up and showing us he was stronger and okay to do the work.”
Julie and Hicarlos headed from their home in Camden, Maine to Dr. Cesar Parra’s barn in New Jersey to sharpen their skills, as she had done with Stravinsky earlier in the year. “Julie’s a highly motivated rider and it was really fun to work with her on this goal,” Dr. Parra said. The pair competed in three shows in two weeks in order to qualify. “We were riding him and could tell he was better and that he was ready. Three weeks later we were going to [the championships in] Pebble Beach,” Julie says. “Without everyone’s hard work and dedication, but most of all without Carlos’ determination to get better and please his rider, we couldn’t have done it.”
Julie and Hicarlos rode on Team Independence with Ashlee Todosijevic of Crown Point, IN; Christine Stephenson of Mission Viejo, CA; and Susan Walker of San Diego, CA. The team finished with the silver medal. Julie finished fourth overall individually. Julie’s coach and trainer for the event was her longtime trainer Willette Brown. For Julie the experience was phenomenal. She says, “I cannot believe I was able to do the Junior Championships with [Hicarlos.] Two years ago he could barely walk. We didn’t know if we would ever be able to ride him again. It was very strange to be back in Pebble Beach where everything had gone wrong in 2004. This time, Carlos tried so hard for me. It was almost like he knew how much I wanted it and tried with his whole being.”
For more information visit http://www.piaffe-performance.com.
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