We are celebrating the Adaptable Arabian as our September Breed of the Month on YourDressage!
Did you know that dressage riders who partner with a member of this ancient breed are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as the Arabian Horse Association is a participating organization?
Here, the owner of an Arabian shares her mare’s incredible journey to recovery from several unfortunate diagnoses, including a rare infectious disease colloquially known as “Florida Swamp Cancer.”
By Abby Miller
Tilly came into my life when she was just four years old – bright-eyed, elegant, and radiating a quiet strength. From the moment I met her, I felt safe and at home in her presence. Although I grew up in the Arabian world, I hadn’t planned to return – until an unexpected detour in horse shopping led me to the horse who would change everything.
I purchased Tilly in 2021, and we started our journey together in the hunter/jumper ring. She was competitive, courageous, and already proving herself a true athlete. But just six months into our partnership, our lives were turned upside down. Tilly suffered a critical medical emergency and was rushed to New Bolton Center, where she was diagnosed with severe sand colic, gastric ulcers, and colitis. The prognosis was uncertain, and her life hung in the balance.
Just as we were preparing to bring her home, another devastating blow came – an infected blood clot had formed in her jugular vein at the site of her catheter. It was the most terrifying moment of my life, but thanks to the expert care at New Bolton, she pulled through. I took on her recovery with everything I had – around-the-clock medication, temperature checks, and constant monitoring. I lived at the barn, committed to giving her every chance to heal.
But the road to recovery wasn’t over. Just days after being cleared for turnout, she slipped in the paddock and sustained small stress fractures in her hind leg, sending us back to stall rest for four more months. It felt relentless. Still, Tilly’s eyes always told me the same thing: We will get through this.
When she finally returned to work, it was clear her heart was no longer in the hunter ring. So, I returned to my roots and introduced her to dressage… The transformation was instant. In 2023 and 2024, Tilly and I competed through Arabian Horse Association (AHA) Regions 15 and 16, and at AHA Sport Horse Nationals – where she earned two National Top Tens in classes of over 40 horses. She moved with pride and purpose, as if this was what she was born to do. Her heart showed in every test.
Then, in November 2024, we made the leap to Wellington, Florida, to train and compete at a higher level. By spring, she was confidently schooling Prix St. Georges (PSG) movements, and solid at Third Level. We were finally reaching the potential we always believed in – until March 2025, when another challenge struck.
Tilly injured her mouth on a stall bolt, which developed into a painful and persistent sore. Despite treatment, it worsened. After a veterinary consultation, we were hit with a diagnosis I’d never heard of before: Pythium insidiosum – commonly known as Florida Swamp Cancer. The infection quickly spread across her muzzle and body. It was devastating.
We fought with everything we had – daily treatments, medications, wound care – but when multiple large sores appeared in July, I knew more aggressive action was needed. On August 6th, Tilly underwent surgery at Palm Beach Equine Clinic to remove the infected tissue. Watching the team care for her, and witnessing the surgery firsthand, was both humbling and hopeful. She handled it all with incredible grace. As of now, she is at home and recovering, with strict care protocols in place to help her fully heal. While we are not out of the woods yet, she continues to fight – just like she always has.
Through every heartbreak and every triumph, Tilly has been my constant. Despite people telling me she’d “never be enough,” that she’d “never make it as a dressage horse,” she has proven again and again that heart matters more than anything. Tilly has never once stopped showing up – for me, for herself, for the future we’re still building.
Tilly is more than just my horse – she is my hope. She represents resilience, second chances, and the fierce spirit of the Arabian breed. She reminds me that even when everything seems stacked against you, there is always a reason to keep fighting. She has changed my life – and I believe her story can inspire others to never give up on their own dreams, no matter how distant they may seem.
As we look toward the 2026 show season, we are focused on earning our USDF Bronze and Silver Medals together. But above all else, I want to honor the journey that brought us here – a journey of courage, healing, and the unbreakable bond between a girl and her Arabian horse.
