Back on Track ‘Horse Therapy’: Heather Rainey

All Heather Rainey wanted was to watch her beloved mare give birth to her first foal. Instead, a freak accident landed her in the ICU. She shares the story of how her horses got her through.

Top photo: Heather, her mare Holly and baby Annie, and Heather’s boyfriend on the end.

From Heather:

Back on April 27, 2013, I fell from our hayloft to the cement aisle below, face first. I ended up in hospital ICU for 13 days.

Meanwhile my beloved mare had her first foal that night I fell so I missed the birth I had been waiting for since the day we found out she was pregnant. I ended up having brain surgery along with plates and screws in my arm and skull.

My recovery was long and painful but seeing the pictures of my new foal motivated me to get out of my hospital bed and walk on the toughest days, because I knew I had to get home to her. Everyone said all I ever talked about was my horses at home and how I needed to get back and take care of them.

Once I got home the very first thing I did was go straight to barn, I saw my new baby and my mare and for a minute all my pain went away, I had never been happier to see my horses. Every day I pushed myself to walk to the barn and help with chores because I knew my horses needed me, and seeing them and hugging them always made everything seem better than it was. I recovered quicker than any of my doctors expected and I have my horses to thank for that.

Here at Horse Nation, we believe that the best therapists are our own horses. We love sharing the stories of special equines — email yours to [email protected] to be featured in an upcoming edition of Back on Track “Horse Therapy.” Go Back on Track, and Go Riding!