Day-Dream Overcomes Serious Infection to Win Major Championships 23rd September 2009
AS the 2009 season was about to get underway Rebecca Short’s Intermediate WHP, Day-Dream was struck by a mystery virus.

Covered in lumps, Devon-based Rebecca and her rider Pippa Wonnacott thought the talented chestnut mare would be out of action for the year.

Explains Rebecca: “We were all really excited about getting the 2009 season off to a flying start when Day-Dream was struck down by a major bacterial infection.

“We thought it would take months for her to recover before she would be able to make it into the show ring again.

“But thankfully we were amazed how quickly she recovered with her skin and coat soon looking in show ring condition again, which we put down to TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer.

“Her muscle tone, and general health was soon glowing and without doubt the feeding regime that she is on played a major part in her recovery.”

With the infection breaking out in March, a delighted Rebecca was relieved to find Day-Dream ready to work in early June and hit the show circuit a month later.

“The lumps looked like bites and were enormous all across her withers.  This made riding her impossible until they were healed enough,” said Rebecca.

“The skin was raw and she also lost hair but once she turned the corner her condition improved dramatically and very quickly.”

Ridden by Pippa Wonnacott, the six-year-old Day-Dream hit form on her return to the competition arena with qualification for HOYS secured at Stithians show in July, and they then went on to take the WHP Championship at the NPS Summer Championships.

This was followed with the pair finding superlative form at the BSPS Championships.

The pair made it through to two evening performances on the first day of the show.  They started their winning ways by heading the Novice Intermediate WHP of the Year by six marks, scoring 19 out of a possible 20 for their jumping.

Success continued when they captured the Novice WHP Championship and the prestigious BSPS Pretty Polly WHP Championship.

Said Pippa: “From what was a very bad start to the season, we’ve had an amazing time and we are so pleased Day-Dream recovered so well and so quickly after such an awful infection.”

Pippa Wonnacott and Day-Dream in action.  Pic by EquiPics.