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According to the surveillance camera, the horse threw me between ten to fifteen feet in the air and I felt like a stone on my side, hitting the ground very hard. My right arm was fold under my body and, it is indeed my forearm which, under the violence of the impact, broke my ribs. The first exam with an X-ray machine identified four broken ribs but a further exam with a can scan identified a total of six broken ribs. It was no apparent lunge perforation resulting from the broken ribs and I was sent back home with an antibiotic due the risk of pneumonia, a pain killer and a toy.

The toy turned to be a very useful tool as it allows retraining the lungs in expelling air, when, as it is the case in my case, both lungs have collapsed under the intensity of the impact force. However, when just moving my arm two inches away from my body is creating excruciating pain, a doctor telling me that pneumonia was likely around the corner, was more concerned in covering his ass from potential law suite than helping me as a patient. The thought of “Strategic Learning” crossed my mind. A strategic learner is not interested in knowledge. A strategic learner on is only interested to know what needs to be know, to pass the exam, get the job, know the judging standards, win a ribbon, etc,. A strategic leaner knows how to ask for the movement but does not know how horse the horse’s physique has to be coordinated for the athletic demand of the movement. Exactly like did the doctor of the emergency room, a strategic learner uses the right words, but the aim is an anthology to the strategic learner’s greatness and not teaching others or applying knowledge for the benefit of others.

“I felt that my thirst for knowledge was being strangled by my teachers; grades were their only measurement.” (Albert Einstein) Ironically, education system originally designed to enhance human intelligence but also, compassion and greatness, is further deepening the dumbing down of the human species. Instead of using his knowledge to consider and eventually prevent complications, the doctor of the first emergency room fitted me in his superficial analysis placing me in a situation of respiratory deficiency that would have led to my death without Helyn’s determination and the intervention of a woman, the doctor of a different emergency room, a “deep learner type pf person, who used her extensive knowledge and experience and understood that every organ of my body were showing signs of shutting off.

Deep learners want to know because they want to teach. Deep learners want to know because they want others to benefit from their knowledge. The doctor of the second emergency room investigated the thought that under the impact force, my lung could have collapsed. Diagnostic tools did not show such collapse but. intuition, knowledge, experience and blood tests suggested otherwise. The doctor was very concerned when I arrived saying, “This man is dying. We need to stabilize him first and very aggressively before we can transport him in a hospital capable to manage this type of lungs damages.” My blood pressure is usually too high and I use daily medication to keep it within a manageable range. Due to the trauma, or the pain medication or both, my blood pressure dropped quite low and the effect of the medication aggravated the problem. Because I was not capable of deep breath, not enough oxygen was provided to the blood. They placed an oxygen mask that covered tightly my nose and mouth and the flaw of oxygen, that was timed with the frequency of my breath furthered a little the intake of each breath. They did many other blood tests and injections but and it was constantly done under surveillance oh my heart, blood pressure and other vital signs. Thinking that she might see some evidence of my crushed lung they did a scanner and this is where they figure that it was two more ribs fractures that X-rays did not identify. The doctor told me, “Even if the cat scan does not show it, I still believe that you have two collapsed lungs and as soon as you are stable enough, I will refer you to a hospital that is specialized for this type of problem.”

“It is through science that we prove, but through intuition that we discover.” (Henri Pointcare). As diagnosis tools improve, they should and never will replace intuition. The doctor’s intuition was right. I had fluid between the outside membranes of the lungs and that both lungs collapsed under the intensity of the impact forces. The approach of the hospital deep learners was in line with the practical application of advanced knowledge, helping the body reappearing the damages through sophisticated understanding of the body’s functions. I wore the tight oxygen mask day and night non-stop for four days. The flaw of oxygen furthered a little the deepness of each breath. It was this therapy that makes me hope that I might not die. This was in line with the science of motion approach; provide the help that nature needs to be provide to restore proper function and carefully monitor in which direction the body reacts. Numerous blood tests and “machines” constantly monitored how my body reacted. The doctors, the nurses, the technicians, the specialists were on the top of each variation making necessary adjustments.

The first night that they offered removing the tight oxygen mask for a less invasive approach. I asked half way through the nigh if they could put back the tight mask as I was not capable, yet, to keep the same efficient depth breath. I always talk about equine as well as humans, being composed of tiers of systems within a system within a system. Some superficial systems can be influenced by the rider, but many deeper ones can only be more or less influenced by the horse’s brain. This is why efficient and sound education demands active participation of the horse’s intelligence. The horse’s brain might explore beyond natural reflexes if attracted by ease, effortlessness, greater efficiency and soundness.

When the “toy” reappeared on the table, the magnitude of the difference between superficial learning and deep learning was there, symbolized into one piece of plastic. The toy was there offered with a pain management program. Deep learners know about the excruciating pain associated with such problem and don’t expect that one, bruised muscularly and pulmonary at a deep level, would expend the rib cages to increase the deepness of the breath. Pain was denied, in the first emergency room because it questioned the limits of strategic learning. They gave me a diagnosis and I should grateful of their knowledge and do not behave as a wimp.  Instead, at the hospital, pain management was a great part of the strategy. How one could expect perform deep breath with a painful chest and lungs and other muscle soreness. The difference is that deep learners know about the systems that have to work efficiently. Deep learners know about athleticism and difficulties and errors and pain. Above all, deep learners know what they have to know to create favorable conditions. Instead, strategic learners are offended when the response is not what they expect. They don’t try to know to help you. They just want to know enough to make rational statements and it became a challenge to their authority if you or your horse die. 

Because of Helyn’s determination. I will ride my horse Chazot again. Chazot is not the horse who ejected me. There is a long way to go but with the support of extraordinary friends, the journey is doing better each day.  Ronda helped her us her own way. Mary who is a successful endurance rider living next door has been there right away and is there every day helping us. Taylor, who is working for us, is not just working for us. He is helping us because he is a great man. Betsy was with us all the way, coming every day at the hospital Michele came too, so did Breea, April Taylor, Louis Wild. Helyn told me about the deep support that we receive from all over the world.

Rehabilitation is a process; it is a journey; it is hard work; it is life. There is no miracle but, as it involves love and friends and had work, it is a miracle. Jean Luc Cornille 6/22/2016