Co-Owner Rachel Shares Her Stallion Knockouts Incredible Comeback
For a long time, I’ve wanted to tell Knockout's story, but each time I try, it feels like there’s so much more to be said. It’s a journey filled with ups and downs, and I sometimes think I could write an entire book about it. But for now, I’ll do my best to fit it into a blog, capturing the essence of everything we've gone through together.
Knockout is a 5-year-old stallion, and his story is one of incredible heart, resilience, and a testament to what can happen when you approach a horse's health from a different angle. This is his story, and it all began one early November morning.
The Day Everything Changed
It was November 2022 when I found him in the middle of my yard, his hind leg horribly mangled. Another horse had broken through a fence and gotten loose, causing him to get loose. Knockout, still new to my property after only being with me for three months, had run through the yard and straight into a tinsel wire fence at the far end of the property. He became tangled in the wire, and the damage was catastrophic. His leg was degloved from above the hock, just below the stifle, all the way down to the fetlock, and the extensor tendon was severed. When I found him, his leg dangled, we believed the whole leg might be broken.
Despite the severity of his injury, Knockout allowed me to lead him up a hill in our yard, a natural ramp we use to load horses into trailers in emergencies. With his leg in such bad shape, we somehow managed to get him loaded, and together we made the difficult journey to the University of Minnesota, where our fight for his recovery began.
Fighting to Save His Leg
Upon arrival, the doctors quickly assessed the situation. While the wound itself was terrible, they explained that the most devastating part of the injury was the severed extensor tendon. We were relieved to learn that there was no joint involvement, but the damage to his tendon was still severe. Knockout’s surgeon did an incredible job stitching together what skin she could over the wound, and after several days in the hospital, he was well enough to come home.
At that point, Knockout was confined to stall rest, and his leg was splinted to prevent him from constantly knuckling over due to the loss of the extensor tendon. A few weeks later, we discovered that a small section of his cannon bone had developed a sequestrum, dead bone that wasn’t going to heal on its own. Back to the university we went, where the sequestrum was surgically removed, and slowly but surely, new tissue began to cover the bone.
By February, we saw significant improvement. The wound was nearly healed, and Knockout had regained a surprising amount of control over his foot. The scar tissue from the severed tendon had bound itself to the bone, which helped stabilize the leg. But then, in true Knockout fashion, he proved that nothing would stop him. During one of our walks, he bucked playfully. He’s always been full of life and tripped over a large ice chunk in the path. The force of the trip caused him to knuckle badly on his injured leg, and I immediately removed the bandage to assess the damage. While the wound had split open further, the damage was far worse than what appeared when looking at his wound.
When Everything Took a Turn
By the next day, it was clear that Knockout’s condition had worsened. His pain was increasing, and it became evident that something was very wrong. We quickly made the decision to bring him back to the university, fearing that he might have developed a septic joint. After the evaluation, we learned that while he wasn’t septic, the pain he was experiencing was intense, mainly due to the wound splitting open further. We brought him home, and within just a few more hours, the pain and distress continued to escalate, and I knew deep down that there was more at play than we had initially thought.
Knockout, the toughest horse I’ve ever met, had always been a fighter, but when I checked on him, and he was lying flat out in his stall, breathing heavily, I knew in my gut the septic joint was the culprit. We attempted to walk him to the ramp, but the freezing ice from a winter storm made it impossible to get up to our ramp. In that moment, we had to think quickly. We decided to build a makeshift ramp inside the barn using frozen dirt, manure, and shavings, but I remember the moment he crawled up that ramp like it was yesterday. He fell several times from the dirt washing away, it became a struggle, and I distinctly remember looking at him and telling him that I needed him to get into this trailer, or he was going to die. The trust he had in me was beyond words. He got himself up that ramp with just three legs, and I was certain upon arrival at the university that he would not still be standing, but in true Knockout fashion, when we arrived, he was still standing.
Fighting to Save His Life
A new team of surgeons reviewed his case, and after another round of testing, they confirmed the worst: Knockout had developed a septic infection in his fetlock joint. The situation had become far more critical than we had anticipated. The surgeon explained that his joint capsule had been torn so severely that, as he put it, “I could park a bus in that joint.” It became clear that we were no longer simply trying to save his leg; we were now fighting to save his life. Knockout underwent immediate surgery to lavage the joint and repair the torn joint capsule.
The next several weeks in the hospital were incredibly tough, as Knockout’s body fought to recover from the invasive surgery. His prognosis remained uncertain, and I could only hold onto hope as the days passed. When he finally returned home, the aftermath of the surgery was even more painful than I could have imagined. The damage to the joint, particularly the cartilage, left him much more lame than before. Yet, even in his state, Knockout never gave up.
Facing a Different Future
At this point, it had become clear to me that the future I had once envisioned for Knockout was likely no longer possible. I had to face the reality that my dreams for him, dreams of a competitive career in the arena, were probably over. At best, I thought, maybe I would have a beautiful breeding stallion. Regardless of what was in store for his future, I knew deep down there were still things I had to try.
We attempted a couple of treatments for his joint: first, an injection of steroids, then another with synthetic joint lubrication. Unfortunately, neither provided any improvement. By this time, Knockout’s wound had healed, but the frustration was starting to show. He was growing increasingly restless with his limited turnout time, and I could see that he was craving more.
Looking at Healing Differently
I had already lost hope for a competitive future, but I wasn’t ready to give up entirely. In the midst of creating ActivateQi, Knockout inspired the creation of our formula, Repair, and I made a decision I hadn't anticipated, I decided to turn him loose.
Knockout has never known the word "limit." He pushes himself relentlessly, and while that drive is one of the things that made him special, it also scared me. There were days when I would watch him push himself so hard that he would become three-legged lame. But despite the setbacks, Knockout never slowed down.
As the weeks and months passed, the harder he would push himself, the more sore he would get but it always was follow by a new threshold for tolerance and mobility. Every time Knockout would overdo it and become sore, he seemed to come back even stronger. His body was adapting, healing, and growing stronger with every challenge he faced. Slowly, I started to realize that his leg was beginning to function more normally. Repair worked to address the soft tissue damage and bone, but one of the formula's key benefits is the ability to break down scar tissue and keep it from continuing to develop. I knew that traditional methods were not working and likely were not going to work at this point.
I wanted to get to approach this in another way, rather than pouring synthetic vitamins or minerals into him, or injecting to combat inflammation, it made more sense to give his body the tools to help it repair itself. Our bodies are capable of incredible things, sometimes we just need to support it's natural ability. That is what we did with Repair, when injuries happen, stagnation develops which creates a block so to speak to the injury. This means that the important free flow of blood and Qi to the injury becomes slowed down or blocked, and nutrients are not getting to the injury site as quickly or in the necessary amounts as they need to for proper healing. Think of it like a garden hose. If I am watering my garden and there is a kink in the hose, should I go turn the water pressure up more (add in more nutrients), or should I go unkink my hose (remove the stagnation)?
Defying Every Expectation
One afternoon, I watched him play in the pasture. I saw him do things that none of my other horses could do, not only because of their own limitations but also because they would likely be sore the next day from exerting themselves like he had. But there he was, putting on a show for the other horses and me, and I remember turning to my dad and saying, “If he’s sound tomorrow, he can handle being a barrel horse.”
Sure enough, the next day, Knockout wasn’t just sound, he was doing the same thing as the day before, but harder.
Giving Him a Job Again
The idea of putting him under saddle was difficult for me to come to terms with. I’ve retired horses over far less, any sign of pain or discomfort, and I won’t push them. But with Knockout, it was different. Every day, he was trying to prove to me that he could do what I thought was impossible. Every time I thought he might be reaching his limit, he’d surprise me and push through even more. As someone who had raised and been around working dogs my entire life, I started to see the similarities between them and Knockout. He needed a purpose. He needed a job. And he was desperate to show me that he could rise to the challenge.
I decided to take things slow with him. I began riding him cautiously, one step at a time, always testing the waters and watching for any signs of distress. But day after day, I was met with so much effort from him. It was clear that he was determined to prove he was capable. And when he battled through a diagnosis of EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis), soon after we began riding, I was amazed to see how he recovered even stronger than before.
What We Were Told
Knockout continued to improve, and what was once considered a fragile leg became less of an obstacle. Some days, I’m not even sure he remembers the state his leg was in. He’s always so focused on what’s next, on what he can do, that the pain seems to be a distant memory for him.
Throughout this journey, I was told by multiple performance vets that Knockout would never be what he could have been. “The leg will never hold up,” they said. “There isn’t even a fraction of 1% that he’ll ever be a barrel horse.” But somehow, I swear, Knockout heard every word. And if you know him, you know that he doesn’t take no for an answer. He has the heart of a warrior, and anyone else’s limits are just that, their limits, not his. If you tell him he can’t do something, he makes it his mission to prove you wrong.
More Than Just a Horse
In the face of every challenge, Knockout has always shown me that his heart and spirit are bigger than any physical limitations. He’s not just a horse; he’s a living testament to the power of persistence, belief, and an unshakable will to overcome. And as he continues to surprise me, I can’t help but believe that the best chapters of his story are still ahead.
Knockout’s journey wasn’t just about overcoming physical challenges, it was about the bond we shared, the trust we built, and the strength we both drew from each other. We had entered the fight not knowing what the outcome would be, but I knew one thing for sure: I would never give up on him, just as he never gave up on me. Together, we faced each setback, each new challenge, with the belief that as long as we kept moving forward, there was always hope. And with every step, Knockout showed me just how powerful the spirit of resilience could be.
This Is Just the Beginning
Knockout has always been more than just a horse to me; he’s a symbol of perseverance. His journey is still unfolding, and though we’ve faced setbacks, his spirit never wavers. Every day, he reminds me of the power of heart and the unbreakable bond between us. This is just the beginning of his story, and I can’t wait to see where this path takes us. Every day he continues to improve, the harder he works, the stronger he gets.
Knockout has chosen this path, he was going to do it with or without me. I am excited that he continues to bring me on his journey and has helped inspire one of our highest-selling formulas that has gone on to help other horses and kick off the beginning of ActivateQi.
I will be forever grateful for him and the purpose he placed inside my heart.
