Back in the Saddle Again

Last Sunday with riding friends gathered 'round and a beer imbibed to bolster my confidence, I clambered aboard my friend Susan's wonderful paint mare, Peaches, for the first time since being hurt in a fall last September. To the wonderment of all and with pure joy write enormous all over my face, I was able to use legs and seat to guide her where I wished, anxiety about riding again held at bay by the business of consciously using my body and getting used to being on a horse again.

The fall had left me badly injured with three big fractures in my pelvis and "subtle" fractures in both femoral cups. I was in rehab for over a month, then subject to daily physical therapy for the next 2 months in order to recover. Not a pretty process, but an effective one that I'll detail here, albeit somewhat backwards.