Over the last few weeks, I don’t think I have stopped smiling after getting back on Diamanti. This has been all I have wanted to do for months and to finally be back on her just brings pure happiness.  She has been so good with me and I have noticed that I have more confidence in the strength and stability of my body so am happy to go off on my own with her.  I can’t believe how much the operation has changed my body.

 

We have a long way to go together as we need to build our confidence up together as a team.  At the moment she is looking after me so is holding herself a little bit, so we need to get her wanting to go more forward.  I also need to remember to breath!  I was slightly worried that as she has got so much stronger was she going to unbalance me when trotting?  Absolutely not!  She has got the most comfortable trot for me that I could keep going round and round with the biggest grin on my face.

 

We ventured down to Nutwell court for a training session which was brilliant.  She can tend to get a little tight when she goes somewhere at the moment where she is lacking experience, but she didn’t put a foot wrong. This is all I can hope for at the moment when we are doing things together as we need just need to back into it.

 

Diamanti did do us very proud the other week when we entered her into the Novice at Stretcholt and she won!!  She coped very well going into the indoor and the scary mirrors which she actually decided weren’t that bad, so I couldn’t have been happier with the result.  We just need to get her out a lot more so she gains some mileage, then we can start venturing out together to some para parties!

I am so pleased with the saddle adaptions that I have had done.  The handle is there just in case I lose my balance or Diamanti spooks, so I feel very happy that I have it there. The best thing though are my thigh straps.  I can’t feel them on my legs, but it has stopped my legs from flapping on and off the saddle which used to be quite offputting and could unbalance me and worry Diamanti.

 

I have been very busy with the Ekso Skeleton.  I did a demo in London for a catastrophic injury conference. This is one of the first that I have done with Hobbs Rehabilitation and Neurological Services.  So I was a little bit nervous as they can be quite negative towards such equipment.  I was actually really surprised and enjoyed it.  They really appreciated my honesty about the device and could really see the benefits.  It has been such a major part of my rehab and had so many positive effects I would recommend to anyone who is suitable to use it. It isn’t only for spinal injuries but stroke rehab and brain injuries to name just a few.  I have another demo at Winchester university on Monday, so I am really looking forward to seeing the response there.