Jun 10, 2010, Tough Decisions.

Hello,

It's been a long, dark time.

I had a very bad riding accident which had nothing to do with skill, it was totally out of my control. I was out with my trainer on a glorious spring morning. We were both so happy to be released from the inside ring where we'd been riding through the very cold winter and had decided to just take a trail ride through the countryside.

We were doing a sedate trot across a field when abruptly my horse stopped and put his head down to eat a clump of grass he couldn't resist - I was in the up part of the posting-trot and went flying over his ears.

I broke both wrists. I wasn't able to have the necessary surgery for ten days because I'm on blood thinners, so I felt like I was on a Civil War battle field with unattended arms - the pain was truly monumental and besides the pain, I couldn't do a thing for myself. Thank you one and all for your kind messages and offers of help during this painful time.

Finally, the casts came off this week - my fingers were not affected, thank God, but wearing the casts made everything very difficult. The wrists are naturally painful but with exercise and massage, I expect them to be restored. I keep looking at my arms in wonder to have them back and uncased.

I made the painful decision to not get back on a horse. I cannot risk an accident of this magnitude again and I felt I was given a good warning. I've absolutely loved my time on a horse but it's over. To underscore that decision, I let go of all my horsey books, clothes and riding gear - much like getting the alcohol out of the house to underscore the decision not to drink. Also, I want to make room for another adventure in my life, so it's necessary to unload the old in order to embrace the new. No, I will not be jumping out of planes! Hopefully the adventure will be of the emotional / spiritual variety.

My book which was almost finished when this happened, had to be put on hold along with everything else but I've now revisited it and will be getting the manuscript to the printer next week - I'm looking towards an early September date for delivery.

At this time, the focus is on San Antonio. I'll be going down Wednesday and I've been invited to speak - such an honor. It's going to be an amazing event.

It's over 90 degrees here in NY today, but I promised that if I ever got the use of my arms back I'd never complain about another thing - especially not the weather!

More updates to come.