For Karly Petrossi, the win is getting to see Asher. Her two-year-old horse doesn’t need a ribbon to matter. The bond they share is reason enough to give him the best care she can.
That belief makes Karly and Asher our October 2026 Draw It Out® Real Rider honorees.
“Even backyard horses deserve the best care possible! We may not win in a show ring, but I win every day I get to see him!”
Karly Petrossi
The horse behind the story
Karly calls Willow Creek, Montana, home and lists trail riding as her discipline. Asher is two. Her application doesn’t read like a list of accomplishments. It reads like someone telling you why her horse matters.
There is room for that here. The horse in the backyard deserves to be seen. So does the person who loves him, pays attention to him and keeps showing up when caring for him gets hard.
Asher, photographed by Karly. Her October Real Rider submission.
A successful surgery, followed by a difficult stretch
Updated October 13, 2026, with Karly’s latest account and photographs.
Asher underwent surgery near his shoulder. In her follow-up, Karly told us the surgery itself went really well. The challenge came afterward: the area moves so much that his sutures would not hold. She described battling inflammation and discomfort while caring for him.
Karly already knew Draw It Out® products and had used them mostly for joint inflammation. This situation was different, and she was candid about her doubts.
“I was honestly skeptical on how well it would truly help him with this type of situation.”
Karly Petrossi, October 13 update
She described using Draw It Out® Gel near the affected area as part of Asher’s care. Her familiarity with the product and its lack of a harsh smell mattered to her. What began as something she was willing to try became a regular part of their days.
“It became part of our daily routine and it still is!”
Karly Petrossi, October 13 update
In her original application, Karly shared the change she was noticing in Asher:
“His superficial swelling around his wound has gone down and he is acting like his silly goose self!”
Karly Petrossi, October Real Rider application
Anyone who knows a horse well understands why a little bit of their usual personality can mean so much. Karly’s words bring the story back to Asher himself, a young horse whose everyday presence is already a win in her life.
“This is a product I really believe in.”
When Karly wrote back after being selected, she wanted us to know that her enthusiasm went beyond winning Real Rider of the Month. She described being thankful for a product she had come to rely on in her routine.
“It’s been a life saver and I’m really thankful that you guys exist!”
Karly Petrossi, describing her personal experience in her October 13 email
Asher’s healing, in the order Karly shared
Karly sent these six photographs with her October 13 update and specifically arranged them in healing order. They document the surgical site and the changes she has been watching through Asher’s recovery.
The photographs below show a surgical wound and are blurred by default. Click or tap a photo’s cover to view it here, then select “Click to hide image” to cover it again.
Sensitive imageSurgical wound · Click to viewClick to hide image1. The first photograph in Karly’s sequence, showing Asher’s shoulder during care.Sensitive imageSurgical wound · Click to viewClick to hide image2. The second photograph, with sutures visible along the surgical site.Sensitive imageSurgical wound · Click to viewClick to hide image3. The third photograph, showing a closer view of the sutured area.Sensitive imageSurgical wound · Click to viewClick to hide image4. The fourth photograph, showing the opening Karly describes.Sensitive imageSurgical wound · Click to viewClick to hide image5. The fifth photograph, showing Asher’s shoulder later in her sequence.Sensitive imageSurgical wound · Click to viewClick to hide image6. The sixth and final photograph in Karly’s October 13 update.
Photographs by Karly, presented in the sequence she supplied. Individual capture dates were not provided. These images document her account; they do not establish what caused the changes shown.
Two additional views from Karly’s original submission
Sensitive imageSurgical wound · Click to viewClick to hide imageA closer view from Karly’s submission.Sensitive imageSurgical wound · Click to viewClick to hide imageAnother view of the area Karly describes.
Why we selected Karly and Asher
Real Rider celebrates the care behind the partnership. Karly put that care into words without making it complicated: backyard horses deserve the best, too.
Her story belongs alongside the competitors, trainers and lifelong horse people we recognize. There is no follower requirement or posting quota. A horse does not need an audience to be important to someone.
This October, we’re proud to celebrate Karly and Asher. Thank you, Karly, for sharing his story and reminding us what a good day with a horse can mean.
Your horse’s story belongs here, too.
Tell us about your horse, your care routine and the bond that makes it worthwhile. Beginning with October 2026, one selected Real Rider each month receives a $150 Draw It Out® gift card after their feature is published.
Shared with Karly’s permission. Her account describes her personal experience, not a wound-treatment recommendation. Surgical wounds require veterinary guidance; use products according to their labels.
March took the scenic route. Meet Abby Pacheco, our belated March 2026 Real Rider: a Colorado trainer, barrel racer, and backcountry rider with a mare full of personality.
Meet Janel Flook of Running F Quarter Horses, our September 2026 Real Rider. Her story brings together 46 years with horses, a return to competition, and a commitment...
A horse that repeatedly points one front foot is giving you useful information. Compare stance, hoof heat, digital pulse, movement, and red flags before you ride or apply...
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I’ve been using Draw It Out Liniment on my horses and have been really impressed with it! It’s become one of my go-to products after workouts, especially when my horses are feeling a little sore or tired. I love how easy it is to use, and it’s something I always like having in the tack room.
As someone who is pretty particular about what I use on my horses, I really appreciate having a product I can reach for after a hard day of riding or hauling. Draw It Out has definitely earned a permanent spot in my horse-care routine, and I would absolutely recommend it to other riders!
Alaina, thank you! We know how much thought goes into choosing what you use on your horses, so earning a permanent spot in your tack room means a lot to us. We appreciate you trusting Draw It Out® after those long days of riding and hauling—and recommending us to fellow riders. Give your horses some love from our crew!
