Caitlin Padgett - Para Rider's video: I Still Feel Alive Ponies Home Farm Recently

Boris wanted to be the thumbnail for this video as I only got options of him 😂 So wow, I thought it was time for a happy video as things do seem to be on the up. Here's just some of the things we've been up to this last couple of months. I've gone from having my first proper ride in a year to my first, trot, my first hack in company in 4 years and my first hack alone in 5 years.... To my first canter and candy's first canter undersaddle in 2 years. Things have just been wild. I'm still very much a cripple but after my stay in hospital I realised there was no point in waiting to get better- because it isn't going to happen. So instead I've been having fun and making memories, working towards my goal of jumping again. Riding leaves me shattered in every sense of the word, my legs and feet don't work but it's so worth it. I have mastered a new way of rising as I can't tense through my calf and ankle to push off so I use my thighs and knees - and to be honest it doesn't look all that different apart from when I lose my balance and fall forwards a bit 🤦‍♀️ And with my first canter today I nearly fell off several times, including nearly going out of the side door when Candy spooked at the tripod 😂 But I soon got into the swing of things and again I learned if I let myself go with the movement and come out of the saddle, if I tensed through my calves I wouldn't bounce down onto Candy's back. I don't think I'm sitting the canter any time soon so if it means I have to go showjumping in light seat... so be it! We also started our sponsorship from Sparkle Pony in August which has been amazing, we had our first lesson last week, there's a bit in the video of Candy just standing quiet which is the first thing we've started to work on :) So yeah, overall I think things are getting better. Here's hoping I don't jinx it!