I remember reading about Courtney King-Dye's accident.  The picture of her running along side the small dog in her show cloths, her fiancee standing blurred in the distance, both with big smiles on their faces stayed with me.  The last I remember was that she was still in a coma and all prayer were with her and her loved ones.  It was at that point I put wore my helmet more often but I am guilty of not wearing it on occasions.  
Then yesterday, July 31st, I was thrilled to pick up Dressage today and see an update to her recovery, what an amazing story. 

How I Came Back
By Courtney King-Dye

In the summer of 2008, Courtney King-Dye rode down the Olympic centerline at the age of 30.  The youngest member of the United States dressage team she was considered one of the country's rising international stars with a bright future as a competitor and trainer.  Less than tow years later, these plans came to a screeching halt.  During a day of training, the horse Courtney was riding tripped, and the pair fell.  Courtney hit her head and suffered a traumatic brain injury. As she lay in a coma, many wondered how long she would be out of the saddle while others worried that she would not wake up at all.  A month passed, and fears turned to hope as Courtney awoke and headed to rehabilitation.  It is now four years since the last Olympics, two years since her injury, and this indomitable athlete is writing her own story.  She is back in the saddle with her eye on the competition ring, but with a few changes to her original plans.  Because all four lobes of her brain were injured and she has limited use of her body, Courtney's goal is still to ride down centerline for team USA, but this time as a Paralympian.

Read more of this amazing story in Dressage Today, July 2012, page 29-33


Here are some video's of Courtney's journey since 2008: 

Idocus and Courtney score 75.40 and took 5th place in the Grand Prix Freestyle 

at the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of the Horse

Courtney's first show back riding Para 1A Freestyle.

Courtney opens the 2nd Rider4Helmets Helmet Safety Symposium. 

I agree that all riders are inspiration to someone.  For me a trainer in the small town of Altoona my students look to me and when I don't put on my helmet it sends a message.  

My new routine: Brush out, tack up, buckle up, mount :)

GoodLuck Courtney! 

Happy Riding!