PHOTO: JAMES PHIFER | WPRA
With the help of the amazing horse JLo, Ivy Conrado Saebens won the barrel racing average at the 2019 NFR, and currently No. 27 in the WPRA World Standings, she hoped they’d make it back to Vegas this year for the 2020 National Finals. Unfortunately, it may not be in the cards for the dynamic duo.
In a post published to her Facebook page this morning, Ivy asked for prayers for JLo, writing about a scary experience in Sidney, Iowa, that has left JLo sick and unable to compete for the time being:
Unfortunately I don’t know what the the 2020 rodeo season will hold for my team. Last week at Sidney, Iowa I called the local vet which was also the clinic contracted with rodeo so it seemed like a safe choice (Fremont Vet Clinic) to run fluids for JLo. The vet decided to tube her instead of jug her - why I have no idea. Unbelievably this vet put the tube in JLos lungs. She pumped a whole bucket of water into my best friends lungs right in front of me. I had no idea until she started acting incredibly colicky, water running out of her nose & had a fever.
Thank you to Destri, Jana, Peyton, Billie Jack and Brittney for helping me get JLo there standing. The closest vet that could treat her was 3 hours from where we were. Rodeo isn’t for the weak of heart, I’ve never felt as helpless as I did after calling 3 clinics to be told the only place that could treat her was 3-4 hours away. JLo is under a close eye with Dr. Tanner now & is healing. Thank you to everyone that has said a prayer for JLo & the incredible support from Kenny Nichols & Dale Barron - this has been the most stressful week of my life & I can only imagine their pain as well.
We do not know when she will be back but all I want is for her to be healthy. 2020 has been a hard pill to swallow, I hope to find purpose in all of this. We love you JLo.
Thank you Hailey Kinsel & Emily Miller for offering up your awesome mares for me this week, I wish I could have done them more justice.
Thank you Tassie Munroe for helping me drive JLo all night once she was stable enough to to make the trip from Ames, Iowa to Brock, TX.
A special thank you to the good vets Dr Tanner, Dr Honnas & Dr Johnson from Iowa State.
