CATCHING UP WITH CORNISH: ONLY SMALL STEPS FOR STARTERS, BUT MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, June 13, 2023

It has now been seven months since Jasmine Cornish suffered a very serious, back-breaking fall in a trial at Beaudesert. The tentative, initial prognosis was that she would be away from race riding for about six months, but it soon became clear that estimate had to revert to an open-ended, on-going assessment as her progress stalled and became, quite literally, painfully slow. While her rehab continues, it is pleasing to report that the first steps towards a possible comeback … small steps … have now been set in motion … that is to a strictly limited degree, but they are nevertheless small steps in a big direction all the same. In this, HRO’s latest edition of Catching Up With Cornish, Cornish gives us the latest update on her situation.

“The last time I saw the doctor I had been seeing since my fall, he told me there was very little further that he could do for me … but a level of pain still existed which has continued to trouble me,” said Cornish.

“I’ve gone to see a pain physiologist now. He tests my flexion and stuff like that. He got the report from the doctor, and they first said they were happy for me to start riding … just at home … on a couple of quiet ones … so, I’ve been slowly increasing that every week.

“Then the pain physiologist said that he was happy for me to start riding at the track … maybe one … then up to two.

“We’ll just see how it goes. Obviously, it is still quite painful because I have been riding, but he said it was natural that it would still be painful at this early stage of getting back in the saddle.

“It can get quite sore if a horse proves to be a bit difficult. it’s not as if you can predict they are going to be good and quiet every time you ride them no matter how carefully you select which ones to ride … they might be feeling extra good that day … you just never know.

“Another change is that I had been going to physio three times a week for about three months and I don’t have to go physio anymore. The pain physiologist says that riding horses can be my exercise for now, I guess.

“Also, I’m taking Panadol- Osteo … two tablets, three times a day … just on a trial basis it to see if it helps. It’s to do with bones and is used to bring some relief from persistent pain.

“I do know this is progress … but, honestly, while I do feel like I am getting stronger, I also feel like I’m at a standstill. At a standstill in terms of waiting, waiting, waiting … because there is no timeframe for coming back to race riding. Nothing like that at all.

“When I think about the last seven months … has it gone quickly or has it dragged along … I feel its been a bit of both.

“Somedays I feel like I was only racing the other day and at other times I feel like … wow, it has been so long. I can’t wait to get out there.

“But the obvious plus side to all of it is being back with the horses, and I’m thankful for that.

“When I’m out with the horses, it is hard to have any dark feelings.

“They just light up my day.”

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JASMINE CORNISH CLIMBS OFF THE CANVAS, BUT THERE IS STILL A LONG ROAD AHEAD (NOVEMBER 17)

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