Stormy’s Recovery Journal – A Summer of Healing (Entry #2)

Stormy’s recovery continues to surprise and amaze us, and it feels like such a blessing to be writing this update.

At the end of June, Stormy celebrated her 7th birthday at the University of Illinois. It wasn’t exactly the kind of birthday most horses would wish for but leave it to Stormy to make the best of it. She hammed it up like the drama queen she is and true to her character, she charmed her care team, soaked up attention, and accepted the milestone as just another step toward getting back to being a normal horse. We’re so grateful she’s spending her 7-year-old year in healing and rediscovery when we initially thought we may have a very different kind of year after her injury..

The biggest news is that Stormy is officially done seeing her surgeon unless a setback occurs. That in itself feels like a miracle. Going forward, she’ll still be making her regular pilgrimages back to U of I every five weeks for her specialized shoe resets and inspections. It’s a routine that has become part of her life—and ours—and while it means continued travel and care, it also means her hoof and recovery remain in expert hands.

Another exciting step forward is her new paddock! After months of very strict limitations, she now has more than double the space she had before. It might not seem like much, but to her it’s a world of difference.

Even though she’s still on restriction (no running, bucking, or wild antics allowed - not that she's listening well to that) Stormy is clearly delighted to have a bit more freedom to stretch, graze, and simply be. Watching her rediscover that joy has been heartwarming.

Of course, she hasn’t lost her mischievous streak. She’s been spoiled with plenty of cookies (she’s decided recovery deserves lots of extra treats!) and has been keeping “Uncle Chief” (the golden soul of an old gelding who has been her buddy since she was 9 months old) on his toes. Chief has tolerated her antics for years, and it’s both funny and comforting to watch their bond continue. She teases him, he sighs and puts up with it, and in their own way they remind us that her spirit is alive and well.

Looking ahead, the road is still long. Stormy’s turnout space will gradually expand over time as her healing allows, and while she is still a long way from galloping through a pasture, the foundation for that future has been laid. Her team has even given us the hopeful news that, in time, she may be fully cleared to ride again. That goal sits far down the road, but the fact that it’s even on the horizon fills us with gratitude.

For now, we’re celebrating the simple joys: a bigger paddock, a cookie-loving 7-year-old mare, a patient old gelding playing babysitter, and the steady rhythm of recovery. Thank you all for walking this journey with us. Every encouraging word, every donation, every thought sent Stormy’s way has carried us to this point.

Here’s to the next chapter of healing, and to a bright future for our miracle horse.