Courtney King-Dye Seriously Injured
Please add Courtney to your prayers tonight and every day until she is fine. She suffered a fractured skull today in an accident on a young horse and was air-lifted to the Hospital in North Palm Beach, Florida, which has an excellent trauma unit. I spoke to Lendon at 8:40pm tonight and she told me that Courtney’s vital signs are good though she is heavily sedated as is the usual case where there is bleeding to the brain. She will be closely monitored tonight and moved into a room in the ICU tomorrow. I know I share every-one’s thoughts of love and good wishes for her complete and speedy recovery and to let her loved ones know we are all here for them.
I also want to mention that Charlie Weaver, whose birthday is Friday, the 5th, is still in the ICU in Miami and we send him as well as injured 3-day riders, Jan Byyny and Rebecca Howard who both were seriously hurt at Pine Top Horse Trials last week.
Our sports all have an inherent risk involved with them and I am very sorry to say that there is not much we can do to eliminate it. These are all top professionals who know what they are doing, but horses are so quick and life can be changed forever in a heartbeat, as we know only too well.
So please say a special prayer for all of these wonderful friends of ours and I will keep you updated on Courtney’s recovery as I know more.
Sending out love,
RD
Jessica — March 3, 2010 @ 9:25 pm
Oh dear! Adding her to my list of prayers for sure (as well as the others you’ve mentioned). Jessica
lita dove — March 3, 2010 @ 9:41 pm
Way too sobering and frightening and close to home.
Prayers sent and HOPING HOPING for positive updates on everyone!
Meg Hilly — March 3, 2010 @ 9:42 pm
thanks robert for the details. sending healing energy out to all the riders…and praying for their full recovery.
aileen munro — March 3, 2010 @ 9:56 pm
I am praying as I sit here writing this, Please keep us updated on Courtney’s condition. I hope for a full recovery of everyone of these special horsemen. Aileen
Emily — March 3, 2010 @ 11:19 pm
As a fellow dressage trainer my thoughts and prayers go out to Courtney tonight. I hope she makes a full and speedy recovery. We do know the risks involved in our sport and yet when accidents like this happen it makes reflect. Sometimes we take what we have for granted.
Adrienne Lyle — March 3, 2010 @ 11:47 pm
My heart sank when I read this. There is nothing anyone can say to help her right now, but she is in all of our thoughts, and I hope hope hope she is OK.
Michele — March 4, 2010 @ 12:01 am
Many heartfelt hopes for a healthy recovery Courtney. As a fellow trainer, yes we all do realize the risks involved when training horses. It is so important to make personal decisions to wear safety gear when ever we can. I commend Courtney in a recent article for wearing a helmet. Far to often in the sport of Dressage we take great risks in not doing so. I am also guilty of this often on a horse I feel a little comfortable with, but I always wear it on young horses. Tomorrow I may reconsider and always wear my helmet. I am aware it is not the be all end all of preventing injuries, but it may in fact truly save me some day. Courtney is in my well wishes and thoughts.
Dantia Benson — March 4, 2010 @ 6:10 am
As a trauma nurse at night and a Dressage rider by day, this is another sobering reminder that no matter what level we are, a helmet is added protection and a reminder to us the risks we take for our passion. My deepest hope that Courtney will be able to represent the USA again
Michelle — March 4, 2010 @ 7:15 am
Sending prayers, light and good energy to Courtney. I know she’s going to be just fine.
Michelle — March 4, 2010 @ 7:17 am
I know someone who was wearing an approved helmet who still received a brain injury but I do think in most cases they do help.
Jim McCourt — March 4, 2010 @ 7:18 am
I heard last night about courtney.I am praying for her swift recovery.I delivered her 32 years ago in Saginaw mi and follow her career faithfully.
deanna — March 4, 2010 @ 7:49 am
blessing and prayers to Courtney and her family as she begins the recovery process and God give strength during rehabilitation. She will be in my daily thoughts.
Johnsienoel — March 4, 2010 @ 8:19 am
Beyond the safety gear I find too that I must be willing to not ride/train when either I or my horse is having an ‘off’ day. It is a big challenge to make that decision between ‘is this the day to correct behaviour’ or ‘is this just not the day to teach this lesson & put him/her on a lunge line.’ My prayers go out to Courtney, her family & friends. It is a sobering reminder of the fragility of life.
Frank Waters — March 4, 2010 @ 8:39 am
My thoughts and prayers are with Courtney, get well very soon, everyone is pulling for you and look forward to seeing you back very soon. Get well!
Barbhenry — March 4, 2010 @ 10:56 am
My heart and prayer goes out to Courtney and her family for a speedy recovery . I am an advocate that everyone need to ride with a helmet with no excuses!
Suzy Fraser — March 4, 2010 @ 12:39 pm
Joining everyone else in wishing Courtney a complete and hopefully speedy recovery. Awful news to read this morning, and I can only imagine what her family must be going through right now. My best to them as well.
Cindi — March 4, 2010 @ 2:50 pm
My heart sank when I read the posting on Eventing Nation. I had tuned in to get an update on Jan and Rebecca, and saw the terrible news about Courtney. I will be including her in my prayers and hoping for a speedy recovery. Please keep us update.
Barbara Sky Horse — March 5, 2010 @ 1:55 pm
I’ll be keeping Courtney in ALL my Best, Most POSITIVE, “Healing” thoughts .. and Of Course ALL My Prayers!!
Great Spirit KNOWS we Need Courtney in Our World .. Full, and Whole, and Back In The Saddle!! .. And I’m Affirming THAT!! <3
Wakan tanan kici un (may the Great Spirit bless you)
yuo’nihanyan (respectfully)
~ Barbara
suzanne — June 22, 2010 @ 10:22 pm
“…obedient and mannerly, and yet forever a menace with it’s innocent power and ineradicable inclination to seek refuge in flight…But when it greets you with a nicker, nuzzles your chest and regards you with a large and liquid eye, the question of where you want to be and what you want to do has been answered” Albert Borgmann, Crossing the Postmodern Divide 1992.
Get well, get strong, come back.