From admissions to the techs and doctors, I can't give them enough credit for their compassion and expertise." At Danika’s initial appointment, the Equine Medical Center team, which included intern Lauren Young and technician Payton Lavoie alongside Ludwig, began Danika on topical treatment to help shrink the mass while they waited for the H-FIRE machine to arrive.

Ask her owner, Carolyn Steppe, and she'll tell you the mare has never had a bad moment in her life — until, that is, a mass developed on the inside of her leg that grew to the size of a tennis ball, threatening to end her show career.

"She is a very social and vocal girl and loves to entertain her humans with a handful of circus tricks," Steppe said.

"She never has a bad moment and is the happiest horse I've ever known — definitely my heart horse." The journey for Danika and Steppe would lead to the Marion duPont S…