From Freak Accident to Full Comeback: How One Horse Beat the Odds and Returned to Competition
Two years ago, Brandon and Lisa Bacon were on a mission. They wanted to find the right horse for their 12 year old son Jackson, who had big dreams of competing in rodeo. Through their work running a horse supply company in Northern California, they were introduced to Ricky, a 13 year old American Quarter Horse gelding with experience as a calm and reliable roping horse. From the first ride, Jackson felt safe. Ricky was steady, patient, and clearly understood his job. For the Bacon family, it felt like more than a good match. It felt meant to be.
About a year later, that feeling was replaced by fear.
A Sudden Accident Changes Everything
After an unwitnessed fall during turnout, the Bacons discovered Ricky with scrapes on his head and serious injuries to both front knees. The right leg was the most alarming. What looked like severe road rash turned out to be a deep, open wound that went straight into his knee joint. Lisa Bacon remembers how shocking it was to see. Even in the safest environments, accidents can happen. Horses, like all animals, can have unpredictable moments, and sometimes there is nothing an owner could have done to prevent it. They immediately called their veterinarian, Dr. Hannah Case of Cotati Large Animal. After examining the wound and seeing joint fluid, Dr. Case knew this was an emergency and urged them to take Ricky to the UC Davis Large Animal Hospital right away.
When Ricky arrived at UC Davis, a specialized emergency team was ready. Imaging showed no broken bones, but it did reveal something just as concerning. The wound had reached the joint space. Joints contain a special fluid that keeps movement smooth and cartilage healthy. When a wound opens into a joint, bacteria and debris can enter, leading to infection and long term damage. Without fast treatment, injuries like this can be life threatening or permanently career ending.
Normally, veterinarians clean joint injuries using a small camera and instruments inside the joint. In Ricky’s case, the surrounding tissue damage was too severe for that approach. Instead, the UC Davis surgical team performed a standing procedure. They carefully flushed the joint with sterile fluids, removed dirt and damaged tissue, and repaired the wound so it could seal and heal. A drain was placed to prevent fluid buildup, and special stitches helped protect the repair. Ricky stayed in the hospital for 19 days. During that time, he received multiple types of antibiotics and daily bandage changes. Doctors regularly tested fluid from his joint to make sure no infection was developing.
To give the injury time to heal, Ricky’s leg was placed in a full length splint to limit movement. Seeing such a strong, athletic horse unable to move freely was emotionally difficult for the family. Visiting Ricky and bringing him treats helped them stay hopeful during a very stressful time. When Ricky was finally able to go home in August 2024, the work was far from over. The UC Davis team provided a slow and careful rehabilitation plan. Back home, the Bacons worked closely with their regular veterinarian and farrier to support Ricky’s recovery step by step.
The goal was to return Ricky to training by early 2025. At the time, that felt almost impossible.
Back Doing What He Loves
Just months later, Ricky proved everyone right. By February 2025, he and Jackson were back to competing in junior rodeo events. Soon after, Ricky returned to team roping. By summer, the pair were competing at state level finals. Over the rest of the season, Ricky and Jackson qualified for the American Cowboy Team Roping Association National Finals, a milestone that once seemed out of reach. Today, Ricky is healthy, active, and back in the arena. To Jackson, he is not just a competition horse. He is a reminder of resilience, teamwork, and the incredible impact veterinary care can have when it matters most.
This experience highlights an important lesson for all animal owners. If your pet suffers a deep wound near a joint or seems suddenly lame, it is always an emergency. Fast veterinary care can save a life, preserve mobility, and make the difference between recovery and heartbreak.
Ricky’s story is proof that even the most frightening injuries do not have to be the end.
