Brandon Twp – On a chilly February morning Missy, draped with an empty saddle, stood stoically silent at the grave site of her 16-year-old owner, handler, and partner, Tiffany Lambiris.
At the request of her parents, Monica and Roc Lambiris, the Brandon Equestrian Team were pallbearers while coaches Kathy Stockley and Sharon Larson accompanied the notoriously antsy 4-year-old mare to Tiffany’s funeral.
‘Tiffany loved her horse,? said Stockley, adding that Tiffany fulfilled a lifelong passion to purchase Missy, working at Cook’s Farm Dairy to pay for boarding, vet bills, shoeing, and riding equipment.
‘Tiffany not only devoted time and money, but nurtured a relationship with her horse,? said Stockley.
Tragically, Tiffany lost her life in an icy automobile accident, on her way to work. Her friend and riding team mate, Elizabeth Ash, who was driving Tiffany to work, was paralyzed from the chest down.
In June, the Lambiris family was struck with more bad news.
They received news that Missy, their daughter’s horse, could not stand up and needed to be taken to Michigan State University for diagnosis and treatment.
‘There was never any doubt what to do,? said Monica Lambiris.
‘This was Tiff’s horse.?
After being transported to MSU, it was determined Missy broke her neck and needed surgery to fuse the vertebra. The operation, however, had to be done at Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio.
‘Getting off the trailer in Ohio she fell again and reinjured herself which put us back to square one,? said Monica. ‘Roc made the decision and he needed to do what he could.?
Missy received the operation, but recovery was not quick.
Veterinary bills continued to mound when the Lambiris family faced further trials. The horse was fighting high fevers and was not responding to antibiotics.
‘It’s been a huge financial thing,? said Monica. ‘It was a choice not to put her down but there was really no question’it’s Tiff’s horse and at the time it was too hard to do.?
After a month at Ohio State University, Missy was transported back to the care of Kathy Stockley.
Stockley says that although the horse developed a condition called wobbles, which creates an unsafe, unsteady posture, within one day of being home Missy’s temperature went back to normal.
Tiffany’s younger sister, Toni, accompanied by her parents, visits the horse twice a day and according to Stockley, this support encourages the 4-year-old mare to fight for recovery.
‘It’s been quite a difficult six months for us but there was no question of what to do’it’s Tiff’s horse.?
Although her weight is far below normal, and the infection remains, however, Stockley said Missy is showing signs of improvement and getting antsy to get out of her stall.
‘Sometimes emotional investments far outweigh the financial investments,? Stockley said, adding that the Lambiris family is facing bills that could be ten times the amount Tiffany paid for the horse.
In addition, Stockley said following their daughter’s wishes, the family placed Tiffany on the organ donor list.
Recently, the family was contacted by the hospital to pay for the donor operation and was rejected by the company because they did not request a second opinion.
‘It’s been an expensive process, between that and still dealing with (bills) Tiffany’s, but it gives us something to pull us together,? Monica said.
Coach Stockley said the Brandon Equestrian Team has established a Tiffany Lambiris Memorial Scholarship fund; however, anyone wishing to make donations to defray medical costs for Tiffany’s horse can send them to: The Lambiris Family, 5427 Seymour Lake Road, Oxford, MI 48371.

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