Lexington, Ky. (July 19, 2019) This year the Rood & Riddle Comeback Award is being given to two outstanding horses. Both Yoder and Cyklon 1083 faced severe medical challenges, made a full recovery, and continued on with their duties and competitions.

This award is presented to a horse who has performed at the highest levels of competition or service, faced a medical/surgical issue, received veterinary care by a Rood & Riddle veterinarian, and subsequently returned to compete at his/her previous performance level.

This year’s first winner is Yoder, a seventeen-year-old Appendix Quarter Horse/Belgian cross, who has served as a Lexington Mounted Police horse for two years. Yoder was injured in the line of duty in December 2018, when he and his rider, Officer Shawn Davis, were on their way to the Christmas parade in downtown Lexington, Ky. Yoder’s rear left leg got trapped in a pipe after he stepped into an uncovered utility hole in the road. His shoe had become caught in a pipe inside the utility hole. Doctors Kevin Hyde and Colton Thacker and fire officials worked for more than an hour trying to free him. After arriving at the hospital, Dr. Brett Woodie was Yoder’s treating veterinarian. Thanks to the great care he received, Yoder is now back in service (including working the 2019 Kentucky Derby).

Our second recipient, Cyklon 1083, is an 18-yr-old Swedish Warmblood stallion, owned by Spy Coast Farm, who was ridden on the international show jumping circuit by Team Ireland rider, Shane Sweetnam. In 2015, Cyklon underwent colic surgery and emergency surgery for guttural pouch mycosis while in Belgium for competition. Once arriving home to Spy Coast Farm several months later, it was discovered that the guttural pouch surgery had resulted in nerve damage to his airway, which Dr. Rolf Embertson of Rood and Riddle was able to correct and Cyklon was able to successfully return to competition. In 2017 Cyklon again underwent colic surgery, this time at Rood and Riddle by Dr. Scott Hopper, and once more was able to successfully return to international competition. Cyklon retired to stud in 2019 with career wins spanning across 10 different countries, 99 top placings, and 30 wins internationally. He resides next door at Spy Coast Farm where he is enjoying the relaxed pace of a breeding stallion and saying hello to tour guests when they stop by the stallion barn.

“We are pleased to present the 2019 Rood & Riddle Comeback Award to both Yoder and Cyklon 1083. They exemplify the characteristics of an outstanding horse who suffered a major health issue, returned to service and competition and continued their exemplary careers,” said Dr. Tom Riddle.

The award presentations will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at Hats Off Day Opening Ceremonies prior to the Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix.