When I started this blog I promised to share all the highs and lows, and the reality of the horse world. I just didn't quite realise the extent of the roller coaster that it was going to be!!
The last blog I wrote was just before the Home International, and this was a massive high for us this year. At the beginning of the year my goal was to try and get selected on G at PSG again, however after he fractured his pelvis, I had to adjust my goals. The concentration moved to Dotty, and although I had in the back of my mind if she went well and got good enough scores I may be able to put her forward, I never expected that in the space 2 shows she would meet all of the minimum criteria with 4 scores ranging between 68 and 73%!! Not bad considering they were her first 2 shows ever!!
So October came and with another 68 and 74%, as well as valuable “busy show” experience under her belt, we headed to Wellington Riding as part of an English Team representing the Central Region.
I could not be more proud of my little homebred, the whole thing was going to be a massive experience for her having never stayed away, or done a trot up and it was only her fourth show ever!! Dotty did 3 fairly consistent tests taking it all in her stride, making only a couple of baby errors. The main goal was to give her a good experience and it was that she got.
However there is only right in the world when there is balance- right!? So after the massive high of Home International, only 2 days later, I find myself in A and E after Borris accidentally kicked me in the head after treading on himself, whilst I was picking out his feet! And of course just to add insult to injury I had also had a wisdom tooth out that day too!
At first I thought this would be a shortish journey, a week or two to heal and I would be good to go. However just because they glued the cuts on my head back together didn’t mean that I was actually better it turns out! A few days later I started suffering the effects of concussion which after 2 weeks, they diagnosed as Post Concussion Syndrome.
I am now 5 weeks on and still suffering the effect of it! People think it’s headaches but it’s not just that, it’s the memory loss, the random crying for no reason at all, the feeling that I have stopped moving and suddenly the world has sped up around me, making me feel very dizzy, the extreme fatigue- equivalent to riding 6 horses and a tough gym session, and of course my words getting jumbled or even not making to my mouth at all. I have good days and bad days, I’m sure the good days are getting more but very slowly!
The good that has come of this is that I have had plenty of time to reflect, look at some of the really good things that have happened this year, and what I want to do next year. I have learnt a lot about my nutrition and not to push myself just because I feel good today.
I’m looking forward to getting to a point I can exercise and start riding again, but only time will tell me when that’s going to be.
The Doctor said it would be good for me to have a few days away and she said I should be fine to fly, so my husband and I took off to Iceland which was amazing, as the sun doesn’t rise until 10.30 there it was perfect for getting in lots of sleep.
I can’t wait to get back to work but unfortunately until I can provide a consistent level of service, and can drive more than 5 mins, I will have to wait! However fear not I am still doing my Centre 10 online course, you know, when I can nap afterwards! 😂😂 So I will have plenty of new stuff for you!!
Thank you to all my friends and family who are helping out and supporting me at the moment, even if I am a bit mad at the moment!
