Shivers down my spine
Thinking of you all who have suffered and strived to continue to reach for your dreams.
October 14th always sends a few shivers down my spine....
1990, 14.10 was the rotational fall in the advanced section, Weston Park that very nearly finished me off. Far from putting me off horses, it reaffirms what they bring to our lives and the risks we are happy and prepared to take to ensure they're a part of it.
I would have died there that day in the woods had the fence judge not removed my tongue from my throat. But I knew, every time I went in the start box at the start of every xc, that I was taking the risk that every eventer takes, and was thrilled to be doing it. Course designers have a really hard job. Whilst they have a responsibility to ensure courses are fair and that fences are as safe as possible yet still pose a question, they cannot possibly be responsible for the speed or manner in which some of these obstacles are negotiated.
Although I cannot remember jumping any of the course that day, I'm guessing that I wasn't hanging around as my dressage score 'wasn't the best' and with a nice clear in the show jumping I would've felt capable of making up a number of places with a fast clear cross country, exactly as I had done a month earlier when I came 2nd at Dauntsey advanced.
I do remember walking the course and honestly felt totally safe in the knowledge that I could 'kick on' at that part of the course. What I failed to consider when walking the course was the TIME OF DAY that I was going to be going round the XC and where the shadows would be before and after the jumps.
We had an Indian summer in 1990 and the sun, albeit bright and hot at 3.30pm, was really quite low in the sky and threw long shadows over jumps, in particular the table styled log pile coming out of the woods. In a normal situation, Lyric V would've been able to ping it with ease, but due to the speed of my approach she was unable to assess for herself that the massive ditch in front of the log pile was in fact just a shadow.
Being the honest mare that she was, she pinned her ears back and took off. Unable to make the spread, she attempted to bank the fence but due to the sharp studs in her shoes, they got stuck and she somersaulted on top of me. My hat smashed, my ribs caved in, my right shoulder crushed and my tongue swallowed. My heart stopped for a good few minutes until the fence judge removed my tongue, them the medics arrived and DE-fibrilated me. I was then unconscious for 8 days, and stayed in hospital for 3 weeks. I had partial seizures so had my driving license taken away for 3 years. No doubt my condition caused untold damage and strain on my family which never truly recovered and to top it off I have 18 years of unimaginable periodic pain through cluster headaches which prompted me to try overdose.
So all in all, 14.10.90 was "Not a good day at the office".
BUT....
Having come through and out the other side I feel blessed, as not only do I have another chance at life, but feel I've everything to gain as after all, this is 'Extra Time' for me. Nothing scares me. Nothing is a challenge too big.
The reality is that Charlie Gingell Saskia Gingell and Katya Gingell would not exist if my throat hadn't been cleared that day and the joy I have of seeing them grow up and develop into fabulous young adults (along with their siblings Ivi Fox and Archie Gingell) make me swell with pride. I'd never have met my amazing Jayne Gingell and the concept of Bespoke supplements probably still wouldn't have come about.
Countless of competitors (and friends) have not been so lucky though. Some have lost their lives and others paralyzed following falls / accidents. My heart goes out to them and their families and friends as they have their own anniversaries every year to remind them of that fateful day, just as October 14th does for me.
Horses are animals. They're unpredictable. Riding cross country at big competitions can be little like skiing down a black run mogul field with precipice either side AND skis that have a mind or their own. It's a huge challenge and 'adrenaline pumpingly' exciting to undertake and to watch. The sport is a true test of horsemanship, bravery and skill. Top professionals like Mark Todd and Blyth Tait who have achieved the top results for so many years have my absolute admiration.
Everyone has their own October the 14th for different reasons. Thinking of you. xx
