I used to be a bit of a thrill chaser when I was younger. Show Jumping seemed to be made for me. That feeling of being suspended and moving through the air was the closest I have ever felt to flying. It was addictive.
A foolish, immature rider who didn’t know her limits, one day in the distant past, I pushed horse after horse and thought tired, got on the 5th, Power of Faith.
Our largest thoroughbred show jumper he made me feel like I was riding the wind.
And then he tripped..
I truly flew that day, over the fence, over the horse’s head and to the soft ground that embraced me.
The world went black and then I flipped over. The blue sky turned dark with his hind quarters as they came crashing towards me.
Silence.
I felt myself sinking as the saw dust and soft sand shifted under our weight.
Screams.
I could not stop till he got up and thankfully walked away.
That day changed who I am.
6 months on crutches and guilt of risking a horses life because I didn’t know when to stop will do that.
A horse takes a leap of faith with us, we should respect and cherish that, no matter how great it feels to take one more jump.