Life's a rollercoaster

Last week I started drafting a post that began with "I FINALLY had a really good brain day!"

An understatement

I felt well enough to hop on Missy for the first time since the beginning of December. My head was clear, my balance steady, and my mare a saint. We did a lap each direction at the walk (while I cried happy, relieved tears the whole time, and Tessa followed, trying to figure what the heck was wrong with me). I even got to try my new insulated riding skirt. It was all rainbows and butterflies. 

I adore this mare, and the view between her ears is one of my favorites.

Additionally, I had the mental stamina to ground drive Pyro. It was a very successful session, and I introduced him to pressure on the breastcollar when starting forward and breeching when coming to a stop.

Baby horse at work

Through the week, I got on Miss one more time, then switched to lunging as the cold weather returned (and my brain was a bit more tired after working on the computer). I had some very good sessions with both horses. Miss was feeling well, and Pyro got to work with side reins and the Eagle ProSix system.

Motion is the lotion for her joints.

He had a few cheeky moments, rooting at the side reins, but I'm glad there's plenty for us to work on while I'm not ready to get on him.

The ProSix is a rehab tool that builds strength, proprioception, and balance.

Then, as life does, the unexpected happened. One moment I was walking across the stable parking lot to bring in horses for the evening, and the next I was on my back, with a clear view of the sky.

It was a beautiful sky at least.

With the freeze-thaw cycles we'd been having, the parking lot was a sheet of ice that I managed to slip on. 

Making a fairly impressive ice angel/crime scene outline, if I do say so myself.

The silver lining? I was wearing my helmet. With the very real risk of Second Impact Syndrome and how hard I smacked the back of my head, it quite possibly saved my life. 

No major blemishes, but it's being replaced after that hit.

After allowing myself a moment to take stock, check my pupils for unusual dilation, and pick myself up, I completed chores for the night in a daze. Since then, I've definitely had a setback in my concussion healing, but it's not a complete reset to ground zero.

Unbothered, appreciating the break in cold weather this week.

I have yet to work either horse since then, but I AM able to complete chores most days. My husband (bless him) did drive to the stable and muck my stalls one evening after work when my brain was soup.

My trusty Bunny-mobile (Yukon XL that can fit SO MANY of my show rabbits in the back) has been reliable in spite of the ice and snow.

This weekend, I got to audit lessons with a new dressage coach we're trying who is willing to come to our barn and teach any of us boarders who are interested on a monthly basis. While concentrating and tracking the riders for several hours was taxing on my brain, I'm really excited to get back in the saddle and work with her. I think she'll be a good resource for in-person lessons to supplement the virtual lessons I plan to start again eventually. She seems to have a low-pressure approach to training young dressage horses and an understanding of "off breeds" that may help me with Pyro and his morgan conformation.

Good baby stallion in his first ever lesson!

My replacement Trauma Void Lynx helmets arrived, and I couldn't be happier with them. They're gorgeous, and I was pleasantly surprised to find they now come with a spare liner. Not only do these helmets come in a pleasing array of colors (with no upcharge for sparkles) and with MIPS technology, they also fit my head so well that I forget I'm wearing them. Since wearing a helmet any time I'm handling a horse is going to be my norm going forward, that's critical. I've even gotten in the car with it still on because I forgot it was there.

The black with suede and sparkles I intend to be my show/back-up-already-on-hand helmet.

Included spare liner!

The smooth brown one I intend to be my everyday use helmet.

I particularly like the brown straps on this one. It's a nice touch over using the same black as the other helmets.

Has this setback been frustrating? Yes. Is it the end of the world? No. Even without another fall, recovery isn't linear, and there are bound to be ups and downs. So, I'm strapped into this roller coaster and trying to enjoy the ride, even if that means pushing in vestibular therapy until I have the spins and can't talk, only interacting with my horses while feeding and scooping poop, and cancelling plans to let my overstimulated brain recover. It will get better, and I'll appreciate the good days even more for it.