Back in the saddle

I think the way I began writing the story of my riding accident has caused some confusion. My riding accident happened on July 24, 2006. I have been telling the story from that time forward…


It has been 3 months since the surgery and almost 7 months since the accident. I am slowly making progress, although I apparently am slow at growing bone. Still, the doctor thought he saw some fuzzy areas on the last x-ray that indicated bone growth. My physical therapy is helping. I have most of my range of motion back. I am no longer in severe pain. Still, there is a low level pain that does not go away.

Pugsley has seemed distant for most of the past 3 months, as if he feels abandoned by me. He doesn’t nicker when I come into the barn. The bright-eyed interest and nuzzling behavior he use to show when I was around is gone. They are reserved for his young rider now. Who can blame him. Immediately following the surgery I was in so much pain that I rarely left the house.

Tonight I rode Pugsley even though I do not have the okay from my doctor. It’s a little scary to be back in the saddle, even at a walk. It has taken so long for this bone to knit back together, even with the help of the plate, synthetic bone marrow, and some newfangled machine that shoots a pulsating energy at the bone twice a day to help it heal. On horseback anything is possible, and my husband, Mick, is so nervous about what I’m doing that he insisted on leadlining me just in case my Boo (Pugsley’s pet name) decided to well….BOO!!! I was only on about 10 minutes. After I got off, Pugsley seemed different, more attentive, softer in the eye. I think he wants me to come back. Most people will scoff and say that is wishful thinking on my part, but I don’t know. I was feeling the connection again, and it seemed like he was feeling it too.