Welfare case to BE90 event horse

WHEN mare Lady Mianella (Nelly) arrived at Bransby Horses as a yearling from a rundown and over-stocked stud yard, she was underweight and hadn’t left her stable for months.

With first-rate care and training, she matured into a stunning youngster, ready to take on any challenge. It was then that she met her current loaner Helen Davis. Helen was on the lookout for a new horse having recently lost her horse of a lifetime.

“When I turned 40, I set out to fulfil my dreams of eventing,” says Helen. “I bought a youngster and produced him to event. He was doing really well until we discovered multiple skeletal issues and he was put to sleep at nine years old. I was heartbroken.”

Helen clawed together what money she could to find another youngster and start again. Little did she know her silver lining would come in the form of a welfare case.

“One of my instructors sent me a photo of Nelly in 2016 and told me to get in touch with Bransby,” says Helen. “I went to try her and the charity did lots of checks to ensure we were the right match – it was like the perfect dating agency.”

Two months later, Nelly arrived.

“She had the best manners and had clearly been looked after and schooled by professionals – it was the last place I expected to find a competition horse,” says Helen. “A few years later, we’re now competing at BE90.”

Helen’s cross-country colours are in Bransby’s colours and she has their logo on her sleeves and dressage pad.

“People recognise her at events and always come to say hi – they love hearing her story,” says Helen. “Our plan is to get to the Burghley 80cm championships and keep progressing. She truly is my silver lining.”