03/05/2026
60 days ago, after our blip at the Canberra Royal, my left shoulder got the full rebuild package, it’s full of titanium bolts and buttons and strapped together with kevlar … possibly a sign from the universe it was time to stop playing silly buggers and take up lawn bowls……
Today, it got a test run at the Waverley Park Equine training day. Nothing wild, just a couple of small 1m courses, but enough to test things by blowing the cobwebs out and remind myself I still can’t see a stride.
Massive shoutout to our Archibald 🐰who came out confident, honest, and far more mentally stable than his rider after our little incident. And if you know how mentally unstable Archie can be at times you’ll understand that’s not saying much about my own state of mind. 😂😂😂
Horses really do have a way of meeting you where you’re at — even when you’re bringing a fair bit of baggage back into the saddle, and Archie has been a saint since day 1 of getting back on.
Because here’s the bit we don’t talk about enough: after a proper fall, it’s not just bones that need fixing. As you get older, the mental game gets louder. The “what ifs” creep in, the hesitation lingers a fraction longer, and suddenly something that used to feel automatic takes conscious effort. Confidence isn’t lost all at once, it leaks out quietly whilst you’re waiting to get back on.
But getting back on isn’t just physical rehab, it’s rebuilding trust. In your body, your horse, and your own judgement. And some days, just turning up is the win.
Grateful for a good surgeon, a good physio, a good horse, and my wonderful Stinker for continuing to blindly back me every step of the way (and probably resisting the urge to bubble wrap me permanently).
Here’s to a quiet, uneventful winter of shows… preferably with all limbs and synthetic parts intact and no more bloody carriage ponies!!
