Part of the Family

A horse named Milton becomes an 8-year-old’s refuge when tragedy strikes

By Delores Kuhlwein

When 8-year-old Emma Rothlein was given her horse, Chip in Blue, as an early birthday present in April 2021 from her parents, it seemed her dreams had come true.

Little did she expect in October 2021, her dad, Bryan Rothlein, would be rushed to the hospital on the same day her horse, “Milton,” was hurriedly hauled to the vet.

Megan Vanderslice, also Bryan’s sister, is both Emma’s aunt and her horse trainer, and she was riding Milton when she noticed he was sore. So Megan’s friend hauled Milton to the vet while Megan accompanied Emma’s mom, Erin, to the hospital.

“We were so busy and consumed with everything going on at the hospital, no one knew how sick Milton really was,” Erin says, because it turned out Milton had foundered.  “It was touch and go for a while, but our wonderful vet, Dalton Pate, knew the severity of our situation at the hospital and he did everything possible to help Milton. We are forever grateful.”

Pate managed to nurse Milton back to health, but the prognosis for Emma’s dad, Bryan, was not as optimistic.  After a long battle, he passed away in November 2021 due to complications from his congenital heart defects, a crushing blow to the family.  “Bryan was dad to both Emma and Will, age 5, and he was one of the greatest men you could ever hope to meet,” Erin recalls. “He was the most compassionate, caring and kind person, and an amazing father and husband.”

In fact, it was Bryan, a skilled veterinarian, who could not wait to share his passion of horses with Emma as soon as she showed interest at age four.  She quickly followed in his footsteps as an avid horse lover, an eventual blessing in disguise, because Emma was eventually able to turn to horses as her refuge when she lost her dad.

“Milton could not have come into our lives at a better time. He has become Emma’s best friend and a reminder of her dad and how much he loved her,” explains Erin.  “I think he was meant to be a part of our family.”

Since that time, Emma has been loaned two horses to show while Milton recovered, and she has proven her passion by working hard and gratefully following the instruction of her Aunt Megan.  “What better role model to have in this industry,” Erin says.  “Megan has worked so hard with Emma and dedicated so much of her time to helping her get to where she is.”

Emma and Milton have their sights set on competing together for the first time in June 2022, and the family is thankful for the support they’ve been shown by everyone.  “We’d also like to thank all those people that have been there for us during this horrible time in our lives with losing Bryan. Thank you to Shelley Grissom, who selflessly donated her amazing horse, Champ, for Emma to ride in her very first horse show, where she won circuit champ. Also a huge thank you to Dillon Holden, for all his hard work and training with Emma, as well as Mariah Murphy, who has let Emma train and show on her horse “Millie.” We could not have gotten through this tough time without you all, and too many others to name!”

Most of all, Erin says they were very lucky to have Bryan in their lives, and they will forever cherish his memory.  She reveals, “We just know he is sitting in the saddle with Emma during every ride.”