Margarite,
I'm sorry to hear your accident was horse related. Was riding a one time thing for you or had you ridden before?

I understand the "hunger" for details surrounding the incident. My husband has the most info, being as I fell right into the path of him and his horse, but even with that, there are things I'd like to know that no one in the group could answer. I'm trying to come to terms with realizing I will never know all I want to know. Tricky.

Lightrail, I'm glad you've kept your sense of humour.

My judgement before the accident was pretty good, but since... meh, not near as solid. We live rurally and it doesn't come up that I need to cross roads, but I know in parking lots etc, I have to remind myself to stay out of the way of cars and such.

Mark, I know helmets don't prevent concussions, but I figure they are still very worth while. I'm positive I would be way worse off or dead had I not had mine on. You can't fall from 9-10 feet, land with 200lbs+ right on the back / top of your head, at speed onto hard frozen ground without a helmet and walk away. (Walked away in a daze with no memories, but walked away!)

I get the suggestion of taking less risks and I appreciate the caring behind that. I'm just not sure if there is a less risk way to keep riding. I had already "retired" from breaking, training and competing and was just pleasure riding on safe, well trained horses.

The day I fell was really just a fluke. My horse did act up, but nothing that should've been an issue, I'm stuck much worse. But a bad combination of the horse's attitude, a branch that I ducked to miss and getting my foot hung up temporarily in my stirrup lead to me falling on my head. (I was wearing proper footwear etc).

I'm just trying to figure out if a life without riding is a life worth living. If you can't pursue your passion, it seems.. empty, like what's the point? That's the trouble with obsessions/hobbies/passions.

Starr

Starr,

Many of us have had to find new passions. We are not limited to one passion in our life.

Here is Idaho, we have a huge riding community. The horse to person ratio is one of the highest in the country.

I know there are some fabulous 'bullet proof' horses. They tend to be older horses that have long since lost their fears. The recent hay shortage caused many to be put up for sale or even given away. It was sad to see these families needing to sell their trusty steed.

Another opportunity is riding mules or even mammoth donkeys. They are much more able to tolerate startles. They tend to stop to think before they react. The donkey breeding of a mule creates a more thoughtful animal. Their stubbornness is more of a "I don't think this is a good idea" thought than blind stubbornness.

From what I have learned, horses are more prey/predator reactive.

I am looking forward to the day when I have the space and $ to feed and care for a mammoth donkey. There are some beautiful animals around here.

Have you ever seen mule races? We have a stable here that cloned a racing mule a few years ago.

The stories I hear of mules and donkeys protecting their owners or even other animals are great. A mountain lion attacked a dog that was along on a back country ride and the mule kicked and stomped the life out of the mountain lion.

We have mules days on Labor Day where they bend poles and barrel race, etc. with mules.

Maybe a bullet proof mule with break away stirrups can fill your passion.

btw, My daughter is CHA certified and wrangled at stables that catered to inexperienced summer camp riders where bullet proof was mandatory.

Thanks for the suggestions Mark. I've always wanted a mammoth donkey and hadn't considered that now (soon) might be the time. I always thought it would be my retirement mount... but maybe I'm just about there?

Trouble is, the only donkeys that are common around here are the minis and standards. Might have to bring one up from your neck of the woods, if they are more common there.

Things to consider. Thanks
Starr

It was my first time riding outside of an arena and the horse that I normally rode had to be highly encouraged to even walk let alone do anything dangerous. But I went riding for my first time out in the fields on a completely strange horse in the middle of spring and he has a funny gallop that I was not used to. I have not been riding since because I seem to be so accident prone that it is just not worth it.
I understand what you mean about it being difficult to give up. I have refused to give up skiing and dancing even though it would be easy to get another concussion doing either of these sports. Dancing raises my spirits like nothing else. I could be having the worse possible day, and the dancing could make me feel even worse physically it raises my spirits so much that it is worth it.
Good Luck!