In the late 1990s, Angela Millon was a busy pediatrician. Shed worked hard to get where she was, giving up horses for college, working her way through medical school and residency, and starting a family with her husband, John Millon.
But after 20 years out of the saddle, the horses came calling when she and her family moved to Greenville, South Carolina, for her job.
Angela jumped back wholeheartedly, buying a small farm and a horse, and her children, Meagan and Michael Millon, soon caught the horse bug. The trio competed locally and on the A circuit until the children went off to college.
In 2015, Angela had another revelation and realized that in her mid-50s, she still had plenty of lofty riding goals she wanted to achieve. With Johns encouragement, she retired and put all her energy into qualifying for her bucket-list horse shows, like Devon (Pennsylvania) and the indoor circuit.
All of a sudden one day I said, Im not going to be able to do this at this level forever, and Im not getting any younger, she said. I want to go to Devon, I want to qualify for indoor finals; I need to have time to dedicate to that, and working full time, theres just not enough hours in the day. I didnt have enough time to go to as many horse shows as I needed to go to, to get it done. The kids were in college, and I just cut back a little for a year or two, then finally my husband said, Just retire. Go for it.
And she did, making it to Devon, the Pennsylvania National and the National Horse Show (Kentucky) in 2016 in the amateur-owner hunters with Motown, a Hanoverian gelding (Don PrincipeEM Rising Star).
I did get ribbons, not the primary colors, but I did. Those were on my bucket list, to be able to go and do that, she said.
During her retirement, Angela became involved in the local Tryon Riding & Hunt Club in nearby Tryon, North Carolina. The organization, founded in 1925, put on rated and local shows, where Angela and her children were regulars over the years.
Those shows were very special, she recalled. They were very different from the rest of the little local circuit shows. They had such a rich history and tradition, and the exhibitor parties were amazing. The board members would descend on the show grounds, and there this little, small town warmth. Theyd come around and bring drinks and snacks. It was just wonderful. The kids and I looked forward to those shows.
As she got to know more people involved with TRHC, she was asked to join their board of directors. She is now heading into her seventh year as a member and third year as president.
TRHC now supports a steeplechase, horse and hound show, rated hunter/jumper shows, dog shows, horse trials and two charity horse shows.
Theres a lot of really rich, traditional activities that have been on the social calendar in Tryon for decades, Angela said. I love giving back to the community. Over the last five years, TRHC has given $200,000 back to the community and about half of that goes to horse-related places. The worlds been good to me. I like giving back.
For her volunteer work with TRHC and for her work asa founding member and co-chair of the Carolinas Show Hunter Hall of Fame, which honors horses and horsemen tied to the Carolinas, Angela received the U.S. Hunter Jumper Associations Amateur Sportsmanship Award at the organizations annual meeting, held Dec. 4-7 in Concord, North Carolina.
I was so humbled and surprised, she said. You sort of just do what you do and dont think much about it. A lot of people know who I am in Tryon, North Carolina, but on a national scale, to get national recognition, that was huge. Going to that meeting and listening to the lifetime achievement presentation and the visionary presentation, it was so inspiring and sort of gave me a kick in the pants, like, Alright, youve got one more year as the president of TRHC. Youve done a whole lot, youve done well, but dont coast your last year. Dig in and keep going because you can always do what youre doing a little bit better.
Finding A Path
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Angela was always horse crazy. When her family moved to Connecticut, she started riding with Show Hunter Hall of Fame inductee Rick Fancher. All students had to care for their own horses, so Angela got an education in horsemanship.
He had a great system, she said. If you could clip the school horses and do a great job, then you could clip your own. Of course, it was like Huck Finn! I was like, OK, great! I learned how to clip and bandage and take care of horses from the get-go.
She was a member of the local Pony Club in Weston, Connecticut, and a trip to the National Horse Show helped inspire her interest in medicine.
One of our field trips was to go to the old National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden. A lot of the horses that came into the ring, they would say, Dr. and Mrs. this or Mrs. that, and I was like, Huh, maybe if I grow up and become a doctor, Ill have enough money to have horses, she recalled with a laugh.
Of course, it wasntjustthat which got her through medical school and a residency.
Ive always liked taking care of things, she said. I thought I wanted to be a vet, but I went out with a vet in Connecticut and made rounds with him, and it just so happened that the day or two that I went out with him, I got drug, trampled, stamped, and I was like, I dont know if I can survive being a vet. I always knew I wanted to do something medical, so I ended up doing people medicine instead of horse medicine.
I love taking care of kids and familiesthe continuity of it, she said. You take care of a kid from birth until they go off to high school or college. You get to really know the whole family. It was great. I loved it.
When she got back into riding, Angela kept the familys horses at home and taught her children the importance of horsemanship.
I didnt want to just take a riding lesson once a week. I wanted to have a horse and do it like I did as a kid, she said. I didnt realize what I was setting myself up for, because it was three times the work and expenses, but both my kids rode all the way through high school;my daughter rode through college. We had so much fun doing it together. We were like partners in crime. Those were wonderful days.
Pediatrics and horses are so alike: The little kids cant tell you whats wrong. Youve got to look at them and see the look in their eye and read their non-verbal stuff to know, are they sick or are they well?
After her children went off to collegeand after 25 years of doing the barn work herselfAngela felt lonely riding at home, so she moved her current horse, Jackson Square, to a barn where she could have a sense of camaraderie with other adult amateurs.
To me [horsemanship] is huge. I feel like I know my horses, she said. Pediatrics and horses are so alike: The little kids cant tell you whats wrong. Youve got to look at them and see the look in their eye and read their non-verbal stuff to know, are they sick or are they well? They cant tell you what hurts. I think theres a big crossover when youre looking at a horse. You walk in the stall, glance in, and I can tell you, is he OK or not? Its because youre with them every single day and you know 100 percent what is there normal and what isnt. I think a lot of amateurs dont have that experience because they dont take care of their horses on a daily basis. I think its very important.
Angela rides with Gisele Beardsley OGrady at Clear View Farm in Landrum, South Carolina. She shows Jackson, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Q Breitling LSUrrike) in the amateur-owner hunters, and OGrady shows him in the 36 performance hunters.
I decided, Im young enough, I can do this, lets move on and try one more time, Millon said. Hes probably the best jumping horse Ive ever owned, but they all come along at different speeds, and hes been slow to mature.
At age 60, Angela still wants to get back to Devon and the fall indoor shows, and possibly earn primary-color ribbons there.
But shes not solely focused on the show ring: Returning to her childhood days in the hunt field, she recently went out for the first time with the Tryon Hounds for fun.
When asked what advice shed give to older adult amateurs, she said, Dont give up. Its out there. Surround yourself with the right village. Make sure youre with the trainer that shares your goals, that supports you. Its a journey. Enjoy every day. Every single day I go to the barn, Im in my happy place, and its just a good day. Especially when I was working, no matter how bad a day I had, as soon as I got to the barn, life was good.
See the original post here:
Amateur Spotlight: Retired Pediatrician Gives Back And Pushes Forward - The Chronicle of the Horse
- Sang Pediatrics: When to see the doctor for a fever - YourCentralValley.com - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Should You Put Sunscreen on Infants? Not Usually - FDA.gov - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Thousands of bike helmets to be distributed to Ohio children | 10tv.com - 10TV - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- How to talk to your teenaged patient about pregnancy and contraception - Contemporary Pediatrics - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Adult RSV Shots Given to More Than 30 Babies by Mistake - Medpage Today - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Pediatric Health Care Teams Can Help Prevent Youth Suicide - The Pew Charitable Trusts - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Small patients, big discoveries | Penn Today - Penn Today - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- HCPs can play an important role in addressing the US infant formula shortage - Contemporary Pediatrics - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- East Wenatchee Doctor Awarded For Boosting Child Vaccinations - KPQ - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- HPV vaccination coverage of US-children aged 9-17 years in 2022 - Contemporary Pediatrics - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Weekly review: Profound genetic deafness gene therapy, measles increases, and more - Contemporary Pediatrics - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Pediatric Telehealth Platform Market is expected to Expand at a Massive CAGR of 26.6% through 2030 - openPR - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- DB-OTO improved hearing to normal in child with profound genetic deafness - Contemporary Pediatrics - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- The IT strategy behind a groundbreaking new $2B pediatric hospital - Healthcare IT News - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Modest Changes in Kids' Developmental Scores Seen From Pandemic - Medpage Today - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- This pediatrics subspecialty has the best work-life balance - MD Linx - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- PM Pediatrics Cobble Hill closing Pediatric urgent care options in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan - Brooklyn Bridge Parents - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- Bethesda Pediatrics awarded $18,000 grant by GIVE - Yahoo! Voices - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- Nemours Children's Health, UCF Partner to Elevate the Quality of Healthcare for Florida's Children - UCF - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- Pediatricians told to talk to patients and parents about climate. - Grist - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- Getting a good night's rest is vital for neurodiverse children pediatric sleep experts explain why - The Conversation - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- Tina Cheng Honored as Exceptional CMO - Research Horizons - Research Horizons - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- Let's talk about childhood injury prevention | Hub - The Hub at Johns Hopkins - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- More young people with depression, anxiety in Virginia | Headlines - InsideNoVa - April 23rd, 2024 [April 23rd, 2024]
- Pediatrics fundraising event at Altru helps children with critical needs - Grand Forks Herald - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Public perceptions of families affected by pediatric cancer and educational work in pediatric oncology | Pediatric ... - Nature.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- The pediatrician, the resident, the strawberry monster, and the zebra - VUMC News - VUMC Reporter - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Receptor targeting to identify medications for pediatric mental health concerns - Contemporary Pediatrics - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Hypoglossal nerve stimulation offers hope for pediatric Down syndrome patients with OSA - News-Medical.Net - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Efforts to reduce wait times for developmental evaluations - Baylor College of Medicine | BCM - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Nasal oxidative stress mediating the effects of colder temperature exposure on pediatric asthma symptoms | Pediatric ... - Nature.com - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Week in review: A new dermatology case study, and a new treatment for severe asthma - Contemporary Pediatrics - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- Chordae Tendinea Rupture and Pulmonary Valve Vegetation in Pediatric Endocarditis: A Rare Condition - Cureus - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Pruitt named director of academic pediatrics division Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - Washington University School of... - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Researchers Show Injury Prevention Program Reduces Injuries in Young Children | Newsroom - UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Provident Healthcare Partners Advises SouthernMED Pediatrics and Sweetgrass Pediatrics in a Partnership with U.S. ... - PR Newswire - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Online child safety laws could help or hurt 2 pediatricians explain what's likely to work and what isn't - The Conversation - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Hundreds of blue pinwheels draw attention for the need of doctors who specialize in child abuse pediatrics - MyStateline.com - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Pediatricians can help teens quit vaping and using tobacco - Odessa American - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH SHAPING CHILDREN'S HEALTH SHOWCASED AT THE PEDIATRIC ACADEMIC ... - PR Newswire - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- New NIAID report on maternal COVID-19 vaccination offers direct evidence of protection for newborns - Contemporary Pediatrics - April 7th, 2024 [April 7th, 2024]
- Navigating Pediatric Diabetes: A Q&A With Leading Expert David Maahs, MD - Stanford Medicine Children's Health Blog - Stanford Children's Health - March 29th, 2024 [March 29th, 2024]
- Linaclotide Succeeds for Functional Constipation in Children | GI and Hepatology News - MDedge - March 29th, 2024 [March 29th, 2024]
- Testing and diagnoses capacity of 2009 influenza and COVID-19 pandemics - Contemporary Pediatrics - March 29th, 2024 [March 29th, 2024]
- Predicting Infection Risk in Childhood Cancer - News Center - Feinberg News Center - March 29th, 2024 [March 29th, 2024]
- Healing the divide: Advancing access to pediatric care - HealthLeaders Media - March 29th, 2024 [March 29th, 2024]
- McMaster Child Health Research Day charts the future of pediatric health - Brighter World - March 29th, 2024 [March 29th, 2024]
- This is serious: The results of a measles outbreak have harmful outcomes - Contemporary Pediatrics - March 29th, 2024 [March 29th, 2024]
- Unlocking the Power of Influenza Vaccines for Pediatric Population: A Narrative Review - Cureus - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Human Papillomavirus Vaccines - Immunizations - American Academy of Pediatrics - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- The role of the pediatrician in school-based mental health services - Contemporary Pediatrics - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Reminder for IPRC Webinar Preventing Secondary Trauma and Practical Self Care for Pediatric Rehabilitation ... - RCPA - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- PCORI Awards CYSHCNet Researchers $5.5 Million to Study Transitions for Children and Caregivers from Hospital-to ... - UNC Health and UNC School of... - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Viewpoint: Journal Pediatrics reneges on its commitment to print response to botched article claiming GMOs are ... - Genetic Literacy Project - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- NYC medical school will go tuition-free thanks to $1 billion gift from former pediatrics professor - Anchorage Daily News - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Innovative New Pediatric Facility Helps Alleviate Patient Anxiety - Healthcare Construction and Operations News - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Most pediatricians aren't prepared to handle teen opioid use, study says - WCVB Boston - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- As Medicaid Shrinks, Clinics for the Poor Are Trying to Survive - The New York Times - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Many children hospitalized with COVID continue to face challenges. - Baltimore Sun - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Exposure to neighborhood violence linked to unmet health needs and increased care utilization in children - News-Medical.Net - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- OUtMATCH: Omalizumab Proves Utility in Multiple Food Allergies for Pediatric, Adult Patients - MD Magazine - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Neffy pharmacokinetic profiles compared to epinephrine injections - Contemporary Pediatrics - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Clinician quiz: AAP clinical practice guideline for treatment of children with obesity - Contemporary Pediatrics - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Contributed: Shortcomings and opportunities for health equity in pediatrics - Mobihealth News - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Committed to physician education to enhance children's health - UChicago Medicine - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- What's leading to youth sports burnout? American Academy of Pediatrics report says 70% of kids are dropping out by 13 - WLS-TV - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Washington University School of Medicine joins collaboration to improve pediatric heart disease care - News-Medical.Net - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- How to Treat Coughs in Kids - Health Matters - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment - Contemporary Pediatrics - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Discontinuing contact precautions for pediatric patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - Contemporary Pediatrics - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Viewpoint: American Academy of Pediatrics fiasco International Association for the Research on Cancer is the ... - Genetic Literacy Project - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Recent reports of measles in multiple states - Contemporary Pediatrics - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Expert shares advice for parents navigating pediatric influenza, COVID-19, and RSV this winter - Newswise - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Global Group of Researchers Release New Criteria for Diagnosing Pediatric Sepsis and Septic Shock - AboutLawsuits.com - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Recurrent Syncope Unveiling Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Pulmonary Artery Thrombi in a Pediatric Patient - Cureus - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- ChatGPT bombs test on diagnosing kids' medical cases with 83% error rate - Ars Technica - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- ChatGPT is terrible at diagnosing child medical cases, according to new study - Mashable - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- The clinical takeaways of the RSV immunizations - Contemporary Pediatrics - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Missouri pediatricians provide eight parenting goals to start the new year strong - Kirksville Daily Express and Daily News - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]
- Reviewing the 2023 RSV season and an outlook on 2024 - Contemporary Pediatrics - January 8th, 2024 [January 8th, 2024]