A post script to the Norton Heath report of last week

[Rosiefan]

Apparently Rosie's local TV want to do an update - she's not keen in case people think she's being pushy but they asked her and I think she's been persuaded to do it.

As far as the title of this post is concerned, they want some film and her Dad suggested they might use the vid I took at NH linked in this post so Bertie may get more 'exposure' than he bargained for lol.
Assuming it actually happens and actually gets used (cynical? moi?) do you think we're right to encourage her to do it?

 

[TarrSteps]

Yes.

A great many people were rooting for her when she was hurt and I'm sure they're curious to know how she's getting on - you could put it to her as a way of repaying some of their interest. Also, her story will give a lot of people hope and inspiration to overcome their own obstacles with perseverance and good humour.

I know she's embarrassed by the attention and no doubt wants to be "normal" again but it's not people staring, it's people genuinely interested and admiring.

And to be crassly blunt, there's no such thing as bad publicity, especially when you're trying to attract sponsors and potentially owners. I'm sure people will cringe and think less of me for saying it, but business is business and you have to make your own opportunities. A well known Canadian Advanced event rider, Karen Brain, was badly injured in a fall. She now competes in both Para and Open competition again and says in her autobiography that in many ways her experience opened doors for her, personally and professionally, in totally unexpected ways. I'm not saying Rosie should make a point of her experience or exploit it in an unpleasant way but sometimes opportunities don't look obvious at first glance. Look how strongly she's come back and how well she's already riding! Many people would be thrilled to be even where she is now and it's only going to get better and better.

People want to know about her not because she got hurt, but because of the courage, strength and ability she - all of you - have shown since.

 

[MistletoeMegan]

If she's comfortable doing it, then absolutely

I think it's very easy to see when someone's being pushy and publicity-seeking, so Rosie shouldn't be at all worried about people getting the wrong impression of her. Completely non-horsey people in the region were very concerned by her accident and followed her progress with interest, so it would be good for them to catch up with her progress to date

I think if she can see everything cut down to a short 'segment' for TV then she'll also be able to realise just how far she's come in her recovery

 

[Rosiefan]

Thank you for that Tarr Steps. You're right of course, she owes it to all the people who were so wonderfully kind. Letting them know how she's doing is a good way of saying thank you and I shall point that out to her. It could bring a degree of closure too for her and it's very true that there is no such thing as bad publicity

 

[Rosiefan]

A reminder of how far she's come would be good - she has very little memory of being in hospital and not a lot more of the month after that. She doesn't really believe us when we tell her how weak and clumsy she was and only believes how many people were rooting for her because of all the cards and messages she got (not least on here). Thanks