Ivy Saebens took round one at the Tour Finale in Salinas, California, but the road to the NFR has been anything but smooth for Saebens and her horse JLo.
A year ago JLo had a serious health scare, as Ivy described on her Facebook page.
“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.”
Now, the two are back together and better than ever. Ivy is sitting in 9th place in the World Standings and will make an appearance with JLo at the 2021 NFR.