The “Comeback Kid” is back in the saddle
Article by: Lisa Lopez-Snyder
Originally Published
On March 21, 2012, when he was just 18, Shadow Montag suffered a traumatic brain injury when his horse Midnight suddenly started bucking during a training session, and Montag fell off head-first, shattering his collarbone in three places.
While the injury did not require surgery, Montag lost his ability to talk and walk, and all memories of his childhood were erased. It took months of care and physical therapy to restore his ability to function on his own. At the time, doctors gave the teen a 10 percent survival rate.
That was 12 years ago. Today, Montag is a second-year veterinary student at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. As a non-traditional student at age 30, he is on his way to making his dreams of becoming a veterinarian come true.
Overcoming the odds — then and now — is “all about moving the needle,” he says. “It’s not about how well we do, but how well we respond to challenges.”
From magic to lost memories
Montag grew up in Belmont, Ohio, a small village in eastern Ohio, where his childhood was deeply entwined with the equestrian world. He was raised by his mother, who organized rodeo events at an arena in their backyard.
At the time, Montag was more immersed in gymnastics and animal rescue than in rodeo. Two experiences, however, drew him to trick riding, often at the encouragement of his sister Dallas, he says: Seeing professional trick rider Shelly Bicknel perform at a rodeo event and later, at age 12, while watching a skilled rider captivate the audience at the Dolly Parton Stampede in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“That’s when the magic unfolded,” he says. “Those events fueled my desire to become a trick rider.” He was inspired, wanting to follow in the footsteps of figures like Dolly Parton to bring joy and entertainment to people.
But the serious horseback riding injury almost put an end to that dream. Montag was a senior at Union Local High School when his horse Midnight bucked him off, and he landed head-first on a concrete patio. He was life-flighted to the nearest trauma hospital and spent weeks in the ICU.
Doctors told the family Montag had the brain of a five-year-old and that if he did survive, the prognosis of him walking again was guarded.
In his haze of recovery while still in the ICU, Montag knew he still had a passion for riding. He says that seeing his mother in the hospital was the moment he was determined to fight for his life. He calls her his greatest champion. “I told her, ‘I got this, I’m determined,” he says. She replied, “You’ll get back on your horse.”
Montag spent months in physical and speech therapy and hours watching trick-riding videos. He also tried to piece his memories together, often listening to others recall what he did.
Less than three years later, Montag was back to practicing trick riding on his main horse Thunder, often doing shows, earning the nickname “Comeback Kid” by rodeo announcer Joe Coalter. He visited schools, sharing his inspirational story with middle and high school students.
“I think my moment of truly starting to heal was when I started talking about my journey more. I started to realize I’m
not alone,” Montag says. “Thunder also played a significant role in my recovery during that period.”
Life lessons along the way
Despite his enduring passion for animals, Montag said becoming a veterinarian seemed like a distant dream. Realizing the demands of academic excellence in veterinary school, he didn’t know how he would keep up.
He applied nonetheless, and exclusively, to Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He was not accepted on his first attempt but successfully gained admission on his second try, demonstrating the improvements he made to his application. “Ohio State took the time to know me and looked at me as a whole,” he says.
Montag says he was drawn to Ohio State because of the college’s ambition to Be the Model® comprehensive college of veterinary medicine in the world and, more specifically, some of the college’s strategic plan goals rooted in health and wellbeing, inclusive excellence and belonging, and strategic resource stewardship. He also says he appreciates the professors’ passion for teaching and for the animals, as well as the college’s efforts to accommodate his learning.
In his first year, he was worried about the time it took for him to make connections between the medical terms and their meaning, particularly in a program with other highly motivated students. He eventually came to understand that growing as a student wasn’t all about competing. “I know now that I can take a deep breath and be honest with myself,” he says. “If I don’t know the answer to that question, I can ask, ‘Can you help me get there?’”
“Ohio State took the time to know me and looked at me as a whole person.” -Shadow Montag, DVM Candidate, Class of 2026
He credits Alison Gardner, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA, DACVECC-LA CVA, associate professor of Equine Surgery and Jenn Gonya, PhD, director of Teaching, Learning, and Student Support Services and an educational psychologist, with helping him navigate through the moments when he doubts his abilities.
Montag also lauds the college’s new curriculum, particularly the exposure to a wide range of cases. “Now I’m considering the possibility of pursuing a mixed animal practice, where I can contribute to and serve my community back home.”
He adds that his journey thus far as a nontraditional student is a testament to the importance of patience and adaptability in overcoming hurdles in life and school. “Navigating group projects has taught me valuable skills, and I've learned to set healthy boundaries,” he says.
He notes that the critical aspects of connecting and communicating with pet owners often mirror the invaluable life skills he learned in trick riding, from orchestrating county fair productions to spearheading community fundraising events. In 2019, he started a Pass the Torch leadership camp in Belmont that teaches young children riding skills, acrobatic stunts and leadership skills.
“I think my moment of getting better was when I started talking about my journey more. I started to realize I’m not alone.” -Shadow Montag, DVM Candidate, Class of 2026
A pivotal moment
In 2023, the College of Veterinary Medicine awarded Montag the Barbara Trueman scholarship.
Montag says the scholarship has been immensely transformative, lightening his academic and financial burdens. “It’s something I deeply cherish and am profoundly grateful for,” he says.
He says this pivotal support arrived when other personal challenges seemed overwhelming, and he was seeking guidance and tools to navigate the complexities. At the time, Montag’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and the family was raising funds to cover her treatment and care.
Rustin M. Moore, DVM, PhD, DACVS, dean, Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, notes that Montag’s story is
an inspiration to others about the importance of not giving up. “His journey is amazing, and his story has touched so
many people and he perseveres."
Montag says the Trueman scholarship has also inspired him to pay it forward. “I aspire to create a scholarship fund and resources, providing future students with the same educational opportunities for growth and success that I have been fortunate to receive.”
Life is not a straight and narrow path for anyone, he says. “I’ve learned there will be more ups and downs, but as long as you’re moving the needle, you’re making progress.”
Shadow Montag’s passionate embrace of our ambition to Be the Model® illustrates the enthusiasm of students who know they will be supported in their educational journey to success at the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine.