Teddi Mellencamp competes in first horse derby since brain tumor surgery: 'Starting to feel like myself again'

Teddi Mellencamp is making a return to competitive horseback riding as she continues to feel more like herself again weeks after undergoing a major surgery to remove several brain tumors.

The star, 43, revealed she participated in her first horse derby since the procedure and placed sixth overall.

Teddi, who is the daughter of singer John Mellencamp, was happy to report she has been 'starting to feel like myself again' as she shared photos and video from the competition.

In footage posted to her Instagram Stories on Friday, Teddi looked in her element as she expertly rode her friend Tiffany Kraft Sinay's horse throughout the course.

'@tiffkraftsinay you are so kind to let me ride your baby in my first derby back,' Mellencamp wrote in the video.

'6th place. Starting to feel like myself again,' she added.

+6

View gallery

Teddi Mellencamp is making a return to her passion of competitive horseback riding as she continues to feel more like herself again weeks after undergoing a major surgery to remove several brain tumors

She followed it up with a photo of her proudly nuzzling the horse after they landed in sixth place.

Teddi beamed as she cuddled the horse, a green sixth place ribbon affixed beside their ear.

'Embassy Row you are such a love bug,' she continued.

Meanwhile, Teddi's horse Totally, who was being ridden by Mark Kinsella, also achieved an impressive fourth place.

Last week Teddi defended her decision to return to horseback riding weeks after her emergency brain surgery.

The star said enjoying her passion for horseback riding provided her with great mental health benefits during an extraordinarily challenging time.  

'Thank you all for the support. I am feeling great and got approval from my doctors to ride today,' the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum wrote via Instagram Story.

'This makes my heart and soul happy. If I see you at the show today and you have the urge to try to tell me not to I kindly ask you refrain.'

She continued: 'I unknowingly rode with huge tumors in my brain for 6 months and those big ones are gone now.

She expertly rode her friend Tiffany Kraft Sinay's horse through the course

The avid horseback rider landed in sixth place

Mellencamp looked in her element enjoyed a day taking part in her passion 

It has been an incredibly challenging few weeks for Mellencamp after she discovered tumors in her brain 

'When you are sick or have cancer, your mental health is very important. I must keep going and give myself joy and goals,' she continued.

'I am going to always fight to be my best and find ways to smile and enjoy my life. Thanks for coming along this journey with me. I am in no place for negativity or discouragement,' she wrote.

The former professional equestrian - who shares children Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, five, with estranged husband Edwin Arroyave - began riding horses at age four.

It has been an incredibly challenging time for Teddi, after she discovered tumors in her brain that led to her undergoing emergency surgery.

At the time, the Bravo alum revealed she would be having two tumors removed in surgery, with the remaining 'smaller tumors' to be 'dealt with via radiation at a later date.' 

The brain tumors were found in mid-February, after she suffered debilitating headaches. 

Teddi has also been battling skin cancer since 2022. 

Mellencamp, who was also diagnosed with skin cancer several years ago, has been updating fans on her health journey on Instagram 

The star said in an Instagram post last week that doctors detected two more tumors in her lungs and three more in her brain, noting that she will immediately begin immunotherapy and radiation treatment.

'Update from my scans today: I have multiple tumors in my brain that weren't able to be removed via surgery. I also have 2 tumors in my lungs. These are all metastases of my melanoma,' she said in last week's post. 

'The doctors are hopeful that immunotherapy will effectively treat them.'

Showing a touch of humor, she added, 'I am feeling positive— that I will win this battle, that I got this wig (I like the short hair, just not the bald spots), and that I can remember all of Angelina's kids' names.

'Now, as @bravoandy would say: with all due… f*** off, cancer!'