Big Ben
Well-Known Member
Hi there people, I don't get to visit here that often, but seeing as someone was nice enough to pm and ask how I was doing I thought I would let you know, hey even if you don't want to know I hope this will be an inspiration to anyone who is currently bent or broken, come back stories are always good.
If you don't know what happened, story is here http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...4-LEARNING-THE-HARD-WAY-Why-you-don-t-want-to or short story, got badly damaged in a mounting accident with my totally unsuitable for me horse, on July 1st last year.
Since then, well I found out that I was a lot more busted up than I first realised, the lung was punctured, not just collapsed, broke my shoulder blade as well as the collar bone, I sat with the surgeon a couple of weeks ago going through the scan and we counted 9 separate breaks or cracks in the ribs, and I still have some dizziness at times. The damage is now mainly healed, although I have some limitation in shoulder movement, and my right side is collapsed somewhat, so it makes sitting up straight an issue. My wonderful physio is going to do a full body alignment test in a week or two, then we can work at getting as much straightness as possible.
Riding wise, well in October, I took Gibbs to a groundwork clinic which got me out working with him, then the same coach worked with me to actually get me on board a couple of weeks later. Actually mounting was terrifying, then she led me around for a while, I walked him solo, and then was glad to get off, my feeling good because I had done it.
After that I was away for a while, and then grounded because it has been so freaking cold here, mainly -20*C as a high, with windchills below -30*C during the day. I was hauling an hour to have lessons at an indoor, but the second journey I managed to jack knife my truck and trailer on the way, thank God the horses were OK, so was I, trailer dented, truck dead, so Gibbs is boarding down there right now. The lessons were kind of yucky, I was tense, upsetting Gibbs, I was seriously wondering how I was going to move on.
Yesterday I had a break through, strangely it was at physio therapy, she asked me a question about riding, she hit one of those hot topic buttons and ended up in tears. Long story short a bit of digging, and we got to the guilt I feel for failing with Ben. We worked through that for a while, multi talented therapist I have, and I went from there to the barn to ride.
Once again long story short, I rode my horse, I had someone stood near while I mounted, but they weren't holding my stirrup, or Gibbs, just there, and I rode...I don't mean sitting there hardy breathing, tensely holding him in, but being able to smile, breathe, talk and SMILE, yes I know I said it twice but it is important. I walked and trotted him, still working up to the canter/lope but we will get there. It was so great to be able to respond with an instant "Knock it off" when he was being a pig, I had a great ride.
I am a work in progress, I still have a long journey both physically and mentally before I am all better, but it is great to be able to actually enjoy being on a horse again.
ETA:
Ben was sold in the fall, he was sold short in the end, he did exactly the same to the first potential buyer that tried him. I could not find a trainer here who was willing to take him on, so advertised him cheaply. After much time weeding out the wannabes and wierdos I found what sounds the perfect person for him, really hoping that they do well together.
For those who remember Willow, she was bought just before Christmas for a 14 year old, who got the best Christmas Day ever
She messages me at least twice a week to tell me how they are doing, which is great.
If you don't know what happened, story is here http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...4-LEARNING-THE-HARD-WAY-Why-you-don-t-want-to or short story, got badly damaged in a mounting accident with my totally unsuitable for me horse, on July 1st last year.
Since then, well I found out that I was a lot more busted up than I first realised, the lung was punctured, not just collapsed, broke my shoulder blade as well as the collar bone, I sat with the surgeon a couple of weeks ago going through the scan and we counted 9 separate breaks or cracks in the ribs, and I still have some dizziness at times. The damage is now mainly healed, although I have some limitation in shoulder movement, and my right side is collapsed somewhat, so it makes sitting up straight an issue. My wonderful physio is going to do a full body alignment test in a week or two, then we can work at getting as much straightness as possible.
Riding wise, well in October, I took Gibbs to a groundwork clinic which got me out working with him, then the same coach worked with me to actually get me on board a couple of weeks later. Actually mounting was terrifying, then she led me around for a while, I walked him solo, and then was glad to get off, my feeling good because I had done it.
After that I was away for a while, and then grounded because it has been so freaking cold here, mainly -20*C as a high, with windchills below -30*C during the day. I was hauling an hour to have lessons at an indoor, but the second journey I managed to jack knife my truck and trailer on the way, thank God the horses were OK, so was I, trailer dented, truck dead, so Gibbs is boarding down there right now. The lessons were kind of yucky, I was tense, upsetting Gibbs, I was seriously wondering how I was going to move on.
Yesterday I had a break through, strangely it was at physio therapy, she asked me a question about riding, she hit one of those hot topic buttons and ended up in tears. Long story short a bit of digging, and we got to the guilt I feel for failing with Ben. We worked through that for a while, multi talented therapist I have, and I went from there to the barn to ride.
Once again long story short, I rode my horse, I had someone stood near while I mounted, but they weren't holding my stirrup, or Gibbs, just there, and I rode...I don't mean sitting there hardy breathing, tensely holding him in, but being able to smile, breathe, talk and SMILE, yes I know I said it twice but it is important. I walked and trotted him, still working up to the canter/lope but we will get there. It was so great to be able to respond with an instant "Knock it off" when he was being a pig, I had a great ride.
I am a work in progress, I still have a long journey both physically and mentally before I am all better, but it is great to be able to actually enjoy being on a horse again.
ETA:
Ben was sold in the fall, he was sold short in the end, he did exactly the same to the first potential buyer that tried him. I could not find a trainer here who was willing to take him on, so advertised him cheaply. After much time weeding out the wannabes and wierdos I found what sounds the perfect person for him, really hoping that they do well together.
For those who remember Willow, she was bought just before Christmas for a 14 year old, who got the best Christmas Day ever
She messages me at least twice a week to tell me how they are doing, which is great.
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