Beloved veterinarian Dr. Meg Mullin, “dedicated her life to what she did and had fun doing it.”
That comment, from Will Connell, former U.S. Equestrian Federation director of sport, sums up the essence of Dr. Mullin, who died Thursday after weeks in a coma following a riding accident.
A sports medicine clinician at the B.W. Furlong and Associates veterinary practice, Dr. Mullin was the U.S. team veterinarian in several disciplines. Much admired for both her professional expertise and upbeat personality, she had an abundance of friends who mourn her loss.
Dr. Meg Mullin was an enthusiastic polo player. (Photo courtesy B.W. Furlong Associates)
“She meant everything to us,” said Dr. Brendan Furlong, who had worked with her since 1997.
“Meg was a force to be reckoned with. Her love of life and her dedication to the practice and to her colleagues and to the horses was phenomenal. She leaves a huge hole, certainly in our lives and practice, and also in the horse industry.”
Dr. Mullin, known to her friends as “Muggy,” had experience with all types of horses, but her favorite equestrian pastime became playing polo. She enjoyed it at the Cypress Polo Club in Lake Worth, Fla., during the winter, and during the summer at Tinicum Polo Club in Pennsylvania, near her home in Clinton, N.J.
Carolyn McKay, the Cypress club manager, was watching as Dr. Mullin mounted Antojito last month and began walking the horse at the beginning of a casual ride. Suddenly, the mare reared up, then fell to the ground dead, hitting her rider in the face with her head.
McKay rushed to the unconscious Dr. Mullin’s side after calling 911, holding her hand and talking to her until the ambulance arrived.
“I had the feeling Meg never knew any pain or discomfort; she was just riding until she wasn’t,” McKay said.
Shortly before her accident, Dr. Mullin was interested in buying another horse to add to her string, which also included Leona and Contessa. But ironically–considering what would happen a few weeks later–when the animal was vetted and determined to have a heart murmur, she decided not to buy it, McKay related.
Recalling the delight with which Dr. Mullin would enjoy getting out on her horses and letting her rough-coated Jack Russell, Scooby, run around at the club, McKay said, “She had it all here when she came out to ride. She just enjoyed every minute of being with the animals and being outside. She was smiling from ear to ear until she was done.”
Dr. Meg Mullin. (Photo courtesy B.W. Furlong and Associates)
Her charisma was felt by the club members as well, said McKay, noting she “gave encouragement and smiles to everyone, both on and off the field. She just made it fun.”
Dr. Mullin was known for her work with the USA’s youth show jumping teams, driving horses, occasionally event horses and most particularly, the para-dressage team horses.
“She was very much part of the team behind the para-dressage team that helped it go from out in the wilderness in Rio (Paralympics 2016) to the podium in Tokyo (2021). That’s without doubt part of her legacy,” said Connell.
“She was completely dedicated to her job,” he continued.
“She got on with people and was the right person for the para-dressage environment.”
Lizzy Chesson, the USEF’s manager of show jumping, called Dr. Mullin’s passing, “a huge, huge loss for us, the team and the industry.”
Dr. Mullin’s private clients also were tremendously fond of the veterinarian.
“All of us at Ashmeadow Farm are devastated about the loss of our dear friend, Meg,” said top hunter rider Amanda Steege.
“She was kind, smart, hard-working, upbeat and always put the needs of the horses first. She made me strive to be a better horsewoman. I will miss her dearly.”
A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Mullin fulfilled a long-held ambition when she was able to attend the Super Bowl and root for the Philadelphia Eagles this winter.
She attended Chestnut Hill College and the University of Virginia for her undergraduate studies, then received her veterinary medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
“She was always a horseman,” said her sister, Jennifer Kovacich, who wrote,”The night sky has one more star as Meg makes her way to heaven. Please carry forward a bit of her sparkle with you to share in abundance.”
In addition to Jennifer, Dr. Mullin also is survived by her brother, Raymond (Miriam Pugh); her sister, Kumari (Kumara Frank), and her nephews, Mitch and Nicholas Kovacich.
Arrangements will be made in the future for a celebration of Dr. Mullin’s life. Those who want to donate in her memory may go to a GoFundMe page put up by Pam Wildman for Dr. Mullin, which will expand into funding for equestrian sport safety.
