Against all odds Missy is champion

Missy, a 12 year old Welsh Section C mare won the Mountain and Moorland In-hand Large Breeds class and the Overall Mountain and Moorland Championship at the Bexhill show, held at the Polegrove on Bank Holiday Monday (May 28).

Missy’s owner, Hailsham resident Christine Hillman says she is thrilled with the results. “Missy has only just recovered from having canker and it was touch and go whether she would survive,” she said. “She spent all winter on box rest. My daughter Cheryl and Bradley Helyer worked tirelessly throughout the winter scrubbing her feet twice a day and allowing them to dry in a clean stable.”

Bradley says he’s proud of how Missy fought the canker. “She was really, really poorly,” he said. “She had to have part of her hoof cut away to even be able to walk. She couldn’t go out in the field and it was a nightmare for seven or eight months.”

Christine added: “We owe our eternal thanks to Dave Henry, the farrier, who immediately came out to see Missy when Cheryl called him and to Karl Holliman of Cliffe Equine Vets who, having dealt with other cases of canker (a rare and complicated condition) gave a definite diagnosis and the best treatment, along with his team of dedicated veterinary nurses.

“At the Bexhill Horse show, Eywas Missy Elliot, Welsh Section C, and Bradley Helyer were the Mountain and Moorland Champions!”