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  1. Another stay in hospital.


    Just when things were getting going with Rocky, the weather was turning good and the show season beginning, plans were being made and things were looking good.


    Tuesday the 10th of March, I had spent the day teaching and generally doing horsey themed things, including long reining Rocky, it was such a nice day that I decided to give Rocky a quick tidy up before putting him to bed.


    As Rocky is growing, he is now just that little bit too tall to reach to brush round his ears without standing on something, so I found a box (our usual block has gone AWOL) and used that to help me reach.
    Rocky is such a good boy, he stands very quietly for grooming, and doesn't fuss, so I was quietly grooming away when out of the blue the box gave way!


    Previously having had back injuries, I knew landing on my back was of course going to be painful, but I wasn't quite aware of what I'd done.


    Rocky was obviously frightened by the collapsing box and the cursing human flailing around on the floor, but apart from jumping when it all happened, just stood with a "what on earth are you doing down there" look on his face staring at me!


    I realised I'd hurt myself, and new I needed to rest so managed to put rocky out and got myself home.
    After a quick sit down on the sofa I went to move, but couldn't, initial reaction "oh god not again". I rang the NHS helpline who told me to call 999 immediately, which I did and awaited the arrival of the ambulance crew.


    As I've been in a similar position before, I had an idea of what was going to happen so tried to organise the children to sort the house out ready. I also called John, my partner, who was getting ready to go out for the evening (oops!!) he came over and between him, the children and the paramedics I was escorted to Southampton General A&E.


    It was now nearly 11.30pm at hospital, with lots of nurses, doctors and specialists attending to me, quite something compared to last time when I only had 2 people with me, also a little daunting too.
    After several doctors had visited, I was whisked away for emergency MRI scan.


    It was now almost 2.30am and I expected john to have gone home as he starts work early, but nope, he was still here waiting for me.
    I was taken to the ward shortly before 3am where the nurses were excellent, very attentive and caring.
    Eventually John went home, about 3.30 and I was given time to rest.


    The following morning the doctors visited again, tests were done and spinal surgeons came to see me, all concerned as I was paralysed.


    Over the next few days I was seen by the physiotherapists or the physio-terrorists as I prefer to call them!
    Almost a week later I was able to stand up and begin to move my legs, shuffling as opposed to walking, but it was movement, a very strange feeling when you can't feel your feet or legs!

    Now a week on and I have been given the all clear to leave hospital with outpatients appointments on the proviso I continue to rest, not try to get back to "normal" too quickly and follow the physio advice.

    Anyone who knows me will be aware of my inability to take it easy and rest, as I love both the teaching side of life and my shop, and resting is not in my vocabulary. This is going to be difficult!
    What is the first thing I want to do on leaving? Pay mr Rocky a visit and say hello!
    I shall then go home and rest.


    Thank you to everyone who has helped and offered support.
    I shall be back teaching and shop keeping as soon as possible!
    Sharon x

  2. Rocky visits our flooded village...

     

     

    Yesterday was such a beautiful day, (well the morning was anyway!) Rocky did some superb work on the EquiAmi, then had a short long reining session around the arena, still wearing the EquiAmi as this helps him use himself.

     

    We then went for a walk around the village.  

     

    Our village has been hit quite hard by the recent floods and most of the roads have been closed, which meant that there are a lot of road signs, sandbags, traffic lights, water pumps and lots of water!

     Village walk 3

    As I haven’t been able to drive around the village I was not aware of quite how bad the village has been affected, it was a very sad sight to see, and I really feel for all the poor people affected.

     

    Part of Rocky’s education is meeting things which may be scary, showing him that they are in fact, not scary.

     

    So yesterday we ventured out to meet the flooding and the associated barriers, sand bags and water pumps, with a few extras thrown in too!

     

    Rocky likes to go out, he is such an inquisitive boy and likes to explore.

     Rocky walk

    The first thing we met (apart from traffic, which he is absolutely fine with), was a “Road Closed” sign, having never met one of these, I did question if he would be afraid, but I shouldn’t have, as all he did was see if it was edible!

    Village walk 2

     

    This seemed to be the running theme for the entire walk, we walked through the water which was knee high in places (I was obviously very careful and would not have gone where it was dangerous for us), at one point we were wandering through the water and a van drove through the other side creating a wave, I braced myself for the “catch the horse in your arms as it leaps in the air” moment, but once again, rocky was more interested in playing in the water!

     

    The sandbags we met only served to be boring, as did water pumps and the fast flowing water under the bridge.

    Village walk 1

     

    You will see his reactions to some of these in these video clips I took, just to show how chilled he was!

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yeHGXBpQf4&list=UUve3aX0Xomg6P8OZk1W3F8g

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUS7o6TwnNY&list=UUve3aX0Xomg6P8OZk1W3F8g

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOtZLdGspvU&list=UUve3aX0Xomg6P8OZk1W3F8g

       

    On the way home there was a mini digger pulling up an old tree, the men very kindly switched the machines off, but I asked them to keep going, and we stood and watched, the noise produced by the machines were enough to put any horse off, but rocky just stood looking inquisitively!

     

    Rocky appears to have his own little fan club in the village now too, there were lots of people working on their properties, and everyone came to say hello to him, remarking how inquisitive and well behaved he was. One old lady actually came out of her house to see him, saying she couldn’t resist!

     

    I can honestly say yesterday was a fabulous education for Rocky, and what was even better was that he took it all in his stride.

    I am so lucky to have such a wonderful boy.