Quest’s “major conquest”!! - the final fight

Hi, my name is Kelly and I am desperately trying to raise money to save my beloved heart horse, Major Conquest (aka Quest). This is honestly more of a love story than that of a horse and owner, so prepare yourself.

Let’s start at the beginning… I met Quest 20+ years ago when he was retired from racing and my horse trainer, Daphne, bought him from Jack Fisher (for a song). Quest was a hell of a steeplechaser, with nearly 30 starts. But what he had in speed and passion, he severely lacked in manners. Quest was literally “un-catchable”… until he met me, and I am telling you it was love at first sight. I could bore you all with the details of our first ride (Let me tell you how nerve racking and exciting and life changing your first time riding an off the track thoroughbred at 9 years old is, though!!)

Fast forward a few years, and ALL my dreams came true when Daphne sold him to me. And my “first love” became my very own!

Quest and I have done it all… he has taken me from short stirrup (which was QUITE comical) through the equitation world, all the way to qualifying for jumper finals. We have foxhunted up and down the east coast, taught young girls to ride at summer camp in VA, and gone for long trail rides to clear both our minds. He went to college with me, got me through my first devastating heart break (and a few others there after), moved to South Carolina with me, and has been with me through literally everything you can imagine from when a girl is 9 years old to almost 30.

So, in other words, this horse has been there for me without fail, through a heck of a lot… and now I need to be there for him. It’s been a really tough year though for us both. From two car accidents (one that was a hit and run, totaling my ford) to numerous medical bills, to being laid off, I have had quite a rough go. Quest has also been given a run of it (and not in the fun racehorse way). Earlier this year he colicked, but after a few days of medication and fluids he was able to recover. He also got a nasty splinter millimeters away from his jugular vein (that was a fun surgery)… but most recently he has suffered some sort of neurological episode. After an emergency visit and numerous follow up vet visits, his incredible team reports that his quality of life is sustainable with medications and may actually return to “normal” with time. Obviously his happiness is THE MOST important thing to me, but I am also aware of his desire to fight and strength to overcome. Please help me save my dance partner, my heart horse, and my best friend. I know he’s an old man, but he is a survivor. He’s had a great second career carrying me through life this far, now I just want to give him a fighting chance to walk beside me a little longer.