Equestrians have setbacks now and then. Our horse gets injured, or we get injured. A young equestrian, Johanna recently dealt with a setback earlier this year. Let's start at the beginning of Johanna's journey. Many years ago, Johanna’s mom created her Instagram account to be a place to share photos of Johanna’s pony, Bunny, and their progress. Over the years it has grown into so much more. It is now known as the “Poshville” community, and many people follow Johanna and support her journey.
Johanna has collaborated with many brands and companies like Tipperary, Horseware, Mane n’ Tail, Aztec Diamond, and more. Johanna is an inspiration to all. This young equestrian has big dreams in competing in the showjumping world. A few months ago, Johanna had an accident that resulted in a break of her femoral neck bone. Her life was turned upside down for a few months to recover and complete physical therapy.
I asked Johanna’s mom some questions about Johanna’s journey and recovery.
@the_posh_equestrian on Instagram
Q: I have had experience getting back in the saddle after surgery, and it can be scary. What were Johanna’s feelings when getting back in the saddle for the first time?
A: "Indeed! Johanna was certainly nervous, but also under all those nerves was excitement. She was on a mount that she has a lot of trust in and had the emotional support and encouragement from her trainer, William Brown, who patiently talked her through her feelings and walked right alongside her until she was comfortable enough to walk alone. Her team gave her the best possible first experience and it was incredible watching her confidence grow throughout her ride. Once I saw that huge smile cross her face, I knew she was feeling back in her element."
Q: What are Johanna’s plans for making a comeback in competing?
A: "We have always taken Johanna’s journey very slowly. We did not start her journey on the premise of it being all about horse shows. Instead, we took our time and let her develop at an organic pace. Her debut was supposed to be a few weeks before her accident with her new mount doing the Children’s 2ft Division. She happened to miss that show because I noticed with the summer heat, gymnastics, and her riding schedule, it was all taking a toll on her, and she needed a mandatory break from all things for a couple of weeks.
Following her accident, she missed out on the rest of the summer show season, and she was a little disappointed about that, but that did not stop her from going with her walker to support her friends! Therefore, she is eager to join her friends come Spring 2023. This time around, Johanna will have a different mindset. Before it was about putting her years of schooling to the test, and now, it is solely a marker of how far she has come in her recovery. She did not anticipate being back this early, nevertheless showing by this timeline. Her heart is full of gratitude, and she is just thankful to be able to ride again. Nothing else matters."
@the_posh_equestrian on Instagram
Q: How has the injury made Johanna stronger, mentally, and physically?
A: "Not only was the injury catastrophic, but Johanna also had a lot of traumatic “firsts” she had to overcome, like the pain, surgery, loss of mobility, and the loss of her independence. The scariest part of the entire day for her was learning she had to have surgery and the thought of not waking up. It was one heck of a day…
Those experiences and the process of everything that followed the injury required a great deal of mental and physical strength, and Johanna proved to all of us that she was more than equipped to take it on. She surprised us all with the way she championed through her challenges with such a mature and positive mindset. No one can predict how traumatic injuries/accidents can change or shape someone—nevertheless, an eight-year-old, but this event defined Johanna in exceptional ways.
Through this experience, she has learned that there is nothing she cannot overcome with the right mindset, a positive attitude, and her faith in God. Future challenges will all be compared to breaking her femoral neck bone and relearning how to walk, followed by the glorious moment of zipping up those paddock boots again for the first time to go after what fills her heart. She made it happen for herself. It has been an empowering experience for her."
Q: What horse will Johanna hope to start competing on again?
A: "That is still undecided at this time, although we are hoping she will be able to take her present mount Pinup into the ring. Pinup is the horse Johanna trusts the most. She was one of the horses that helped start Johanna when she moved to Brown Hall and was a huge contributor to Johanna’s confidence. Johanna has hit all her biggest milestones on her, so it is interesting to see their partnership come full circle. I often wonder if Pinup was who she was meant to be with at this point!"
Q: How has the Poshville Community made an impact on Johanna’s life?
A: "The support we have received from Poshville over the years has been tremendous! There is something to be said about not feeling alone in your hardships and trials. It is one thing for Johanna to hear words of encouragement from her trainer and parents, but another to hear them from other equestrians and people from all around the world.
The kind words, love, and support have all been immensely motivating for her—inspiring, even! It is incredibly important to believe in yourself, but it is also an amazing feeling when there is a community on the sideline cheering you on! We are very thankful for Poshville and the people who have supported Johanna over the years! It has been such a moving and heartwarming experience for our entire family."
@the_posh_equestrian on Instagram
I thank Johanna's mom for taking the time to tell me a little more about Johanna's journey and her recent comeback in the equestrian world. You can head to their Instagram to follow Johanna's journey here.
Comments