Teddi Mellencamp is getting back on the saddle — literally.
A month after undergoing surgery to remove multiple tumors on her brain, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 43, returned to horseback riding. Photos obtained by PEOPLE on Monday, March 17 show Mellencamp participating in an equestrian competition in Los Angeles.
Mellencamp also shared photos on her Instagram on Sunday, March 16, showing her and her daughter Slate in their riding clothes at the World Championship Hunter Rider program’s event.
“Two exciting things happened: I got to bond with my girl @slate_mellencamp_eq and watch her become the circuit champion on Catniss in the 3’6” 15-and-under Junior Hunters. And I got to get on my boy, Toad… something I was worried I would never be able to do again,” she wrote in the caption. “All while the immunotherapy kicked my butt (which the docs say that means it’s working 🤞).”
“When you’re battling cancer or any sickness, mental health is just as important as physical,” she continued. “To get to ride again, with Slate by my side, is the best supplement to the medical treatments that I am confident will wipe out these tumors. And y’all know nothing will crush my competitive spirit so I gotta say… I got so much life and am so proud that I was able to ride my best boy 🐸 to become champ in the 3’6” WCHR week.”
Mellencamp went on to thank those who helped her participate and “prove the negative thoughts wrong” before revealing that she is entering her next phase of cancer treatments in the coming days.
“My heart and soul got a huge boost this weekend ❤️ And now I’m more than ready to start radiation this week,” the post concluded.
On her Instagram Story on March 17, Mellencamp also informed her followers that she was prioritizing her physical health by attending a workout class at Barry’s with husband Edwin Arroyave.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In February, the mom of three underwent surgery to remove tumors from her brain after “dealing with severe and debilitating headaches” for several weeks. She later revealed that doctors discovered three more tumors in her brain and one tumor in each of her lungs.
In an Instagram update on March 6, she said they were a result of her years-long journey with melanoma, for which she has had 17 cancerous spots removed — the most recent of which occurred in December 2024.
According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 60% of patients with advanced melanoma develop brain metastases during the course of their disease, and “the presence of brain metastases significantly worsens a patient’s prognosis.” This occurs when cancer cells migrate through the blood-brain barrier.
“The doctors are hopeful that these additional mutations will be removed via immunotherapy. That begins Tuesday at 11AM,” Mellencamp wrote in her post. “I am feeling positive and excited— that I will beat these tumors.”
She also shared that she got a blonde wig after having to shave her head for the initial procedure, saying, “[I] like the short hair, just not the bald spots.”
“Now, as @bravoandy would say: with all due… f*** off, cancer!” she concluded, referring to her former Bravo boss.
On Thursday, March 13, she returned to her podcast Two Ts In a Pod, where she updated listeners and her co-host Tamra Judge, calling her recovery “some of [her] darkest, saddest days.”
Read the full article here
