How it happened
Just keep smilin’….
You may be asking, so Meika, what happened?
Well, I was trying to be a good mom and give Daisy a fun play date with McKinley. Fresh Pain Funky Kinley is renowned for getting straight A’s in dog playing. She is fast, adaptable, and has good recall. I was hoping to tire out Daisy so I could have a peaceful sleeping puppy that night.
Life lesson: Do not look at your phone when there are two bullet dogs racing around the yard.
I mean…. Of all the ways to get hurt!! I usually can at least say it happened on a 1500-pound animal that made a bad decision. But, now it feels like a stupid, avoidable accident.
I am surprised at how relaxed I am about my horses and their training. I don’t know why, but I guess it is a deep acceptance that I can’t change the past, so fucking live with it. Archie is the most important horse, as he is the oldest and needs to stay in shape. He is like one of those images you see on the web of a 70 year old man with ripped abs. Archie is not AI generated, but I do want to keep him ripped! Rachel is getting the ride on him for the early spring events.
The other horses are slowly losing fitness, but I’m ok with that. I will get them ramped back up as my recovery gets closer. They are all trained, just need to stay ticked over with trail rides and trot sets, and wait for me. As we speak, Mark is putting in a hot walker that is going to be a game changer!
Here is what I have learned so far to cope with my disability:
An ice circulator with knee cryo cuff is a non-negotiable item. Ice packs require changing, which means either crutching to the freezer or asking your already-too-busy husband to do it for you. It’s so nice to sleep with the machine running, not too cold and completely substitutes for any oral pain meds!
Cee Coach is necessary for any sort of dressage teaching. I just can’t stand out in the middle of the arena and teach with activity. I love the ability to talk in plain voice and have a conversation with my rider anywhere in the arena, while I lounge in my little scooter.
Speaking of scooters: The bigger the wheels, the better! I have been watching Lindsey Vonn’s posts as she recovers from something WAY worse than me, and she, too, looks so happy on her e-scooter. However, she has a nice paved patio, and I have GGT footing, barn aisles, and crunchy gravel roads to negotiate. So, all-terrain wheels are the way to go.
Take a quiet moment today to appreciate your body. It’s the ony one you got.