When I bought Teddy, I had big aspirations: riding him in the Grand Prix, and when I looked at pictures I thought about how sweet it would be to look back on his younger life 20 years down the road when he would be an old man and retired in a field.

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All of that changed in a matter of months. It started with a fall; Teddy collapsed under saddle with me on his back. Then in the next weeks came explosive bolting, one instance of which put me in the hospital.

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He tossed his head nonstop in discomfort. He stumbled, he couldn’t canter. I stopped riding him. He didn’t know where his feet were.

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I took him to another state to get a CT scan, which confirmed my worst fears: at just 5 years old, Teddy had severe arthritis and spinal cord compression, also known as “Wobblers.” This is often a life-ending diagnosis because it is so dangerous to do basic care on a horse that can’t balance - Teddy struggled with the farrier, I worried about him interacting with barn staff, and I was scared to hand walk him because he would stagger and nearly fall. With his condition worsening, I made the hardest choice of my life and said goodbye to him on October 29, 2025.

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Despite the heartache and hardship, Teddy was a joy and a gift. He taught me more in the 8 short months he was with me than I have learned in the entire rest of my 31 years with horses. He opened my eyes to the lack of veterinary science-backed research into things like ECVM and Wobblers, the lack of educational opportunities for the average horse person by qualified equine professionals, and the expense and anxiety of navigating neurological issues.

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Teddy’s Legacy bridges the gap between science and empathy, empowering professionals and owners alike to make informed, humane decisions for the animals who give us so much. We believe that through science, education, and access, we can transform how horses are understood and treated. Each partnership, sponsorship, and donation extends Teddy’s legacy further, turning one horse’s story into a lasting movement for equine welfare.

 

With gratitude,

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Brianna Navarro

Executive Director & Founder

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Thank you to our incredible initial board of directors:

Alexandra Brooks, Abigail Cofer, Nora Kobayashi, & Jennifer Mullally