Today started off wonderfully. Josie had a restful night's sleep, the sun was shining, and the air felt like fall—a perfect day for horseback riding! Unfortunately, "fall" would take on a different meaning later in the day.
Josie has been receiving hippotherapy for over a decade and absolutely loves it. In 2019, she earned the Horseability Rider of the Year Award and has grown into an amazing rider. She sits up tall with excellent posture, her smile stretches from ear to ear, and her laughter can be heard both in the ring and on the trail.
While I walked along the nearby road, I took some pictures to share with Uncle Michael and Aunt Eileen, who generously sponsored today's session as a birthday gift for Josie. Everything was going smoothly—Josie was sitting tall and smiling, with her therapist and helpers walking alongside her.
Just two minutes later, while I had stepped ahead to let her focus, I received a call from Melissa. Josie had fallen off the horse. It turns out that some cyclists riding by startled the horse, causing it to bolt and throw Josie off. Her therapist and helpers did their best to break her fall, but it all happened so quickly.
I rushed back to find her lying on her back, visibly shaken. She had the wind knocked out of her, and part of her helmet had come off. Aside from being frightened, she appeared to be okay.
Although she was calmer than usual today, her spirits remained high. There were no visible injuries, but we'll continue to monitor her behavior and what she communicates to us.
In April 2021, Josie fell off the horse for the first time and needed to go to the hospital for a check-up. She had bruises and scrapes on her back and was quite shaken. Thankfully, today doesn't seem as serious.
After today’s experience, aqua therapy appears to be a much safer option. Thank you for all your support; it truly means the world to her and provides a sense of relief.