Dressage rider Milo Johnston makes a comeback after breaking his neck

For riders, identification and the saddle are tightly certain. Using isn’t simply what we do – it’s who we’re. So when a fall places you out of motion, the deepest wounds typically aren’t the damaged bones, however the concern of rebuilding your sense of self.

That concern turns into even sharper when docs say you may by no means experience once more, as Irish dressage rider Milo Johnston found.

“I fell off a three-year-old I used to be backing,” he tells H&H. “I’d mentioned earlier than I obtained on, ‘That is going to be my trickiest one of many 12 months’. However I obtained on her and I believed, ‘Yeah, she feels superb’.

“Then I put my leg on – and it was very not superb. She rodeoed till I fell off. I went over her entrance, and he or she reared and smacked me within the chest. I landed on the again of my head, on the prime of my neck. I broke my neck in 4 locations, my again in six, and had a small mind bleed.

“On the time, although, me being me, I mentioned, ‘No, I believe I’m okay’. I stood up and walked onto the yard, sat on a chair, and the chair broke. I hit the ground once more and simply cried. I used to be like, ‘Okay, that is actually unhealthy now. I can’t really feel my toes’.”

Milo was hospitalised and later referred to the Royal London Hospital’s spinal unit.

The harm meant 9 months out of the saddle. “Principally in a neck brace and again brace trying tremendous unflattering,” laughs Milo, who stays remarkably constructive, regardless that he describes these months as the toughest of his life and nonetheless lives with ongoing ache.

“It was completely horrible. I spent quite a lot of time inside, too scared to go outdoors, as a result of I used to be advised if I fell once more or somebody knocked me the mistaken method, I’d probably want life-changing surgical procedure.

“I bear in mind going to the London Worldwide Horse Present not lengthy after, in a wheelchair, and being mortified. Everybody is aware of me as robust and hard – and abruptly I used to be susceptible and afraid of all the things.”

For Milo, one of many scariest elements was the numbness. “Quite a lot of the time it didn’t damage,” he says. “There was simply quite a lot of injury throughout, however day-to-day, I couldn’t really feel how a lot I may be damaging it additional. That was terrifying.”

Medical doctors suggested Milo to not return to using in any respect. “They advised me I ought to in all probability by no means experience once more. I mentioned, ‘Can I get a second opinion?’ They mentioned the identical factor. So I used to be like, effectively… let’s see what occurs.”

Milo Johnston: “I’ve averted speaking about it for thus lengthy”

Milo threw himself into rehab, which helped each bodily and mentally.

“I attempted all the things. I used to be within the fitness center six days per week,” he mentioned. “It wasn’t nearly therapeutic – I’d gone from coaching a number of horses a day to mendacity in mattress. I wanted a cause to rise up.”

Rehab went effectively, however Milo quickly realised how lengthy the highway forward can be.

“I bear in mind once I obtained the all-clear to take my neck brace off,” he says. “I believed, that is it, I’m again. However then the physician mentioned, ‘You may take it off – however just for 10 minutes, then put it again on’. Rehab felt infinite. The bodily facet I might repair; the psychological facet took for much longer.”

Even after getting the all-clear, it took practically two years earlier than Milo felt prepared to speak publicly about his accident.

“I began working with a mindset coach known as Kieran Smith,” Milo explains. “I used to be sceptical at first, however it’s been superb. He’s finished for my thoughts what the docs did for my damaged bones. I couldn’t have finished it with out the help of my household as effectively.

“It wasn’t straightforward at first. I bear in mind coming again and having one other three-year-old to again – I used to be terrified. However Kieran helped me retrain how I thought of it. As an alternative of my ‘what ifs’ all the time being worst-case situations, he inspired me to suppose, ‘What if all of it works out?’”

And it did work out. Milo has since moved to Sweden to work at Gunnarlunda Dressage and has purchased his personal horse, with hopes of competing internationally for Eire.

“It’s unusual, as a result of everybody asks me, ‘How did you get your confidence again?’ And I say, it sounds foolish, however truthfully, I fell off once more after my accident and was completely superb. I used to suppose that any fall meant I’d break quite a lot of bones, however now I’ve come off just a few occasions and it’s been okay – and that’s helped.

“I’d averted speaking about it for thus lengthy,” Milo provides. “I made an Instagram reel about it, however stored it in my drafts for ages, not sure whether or not to submit it.

“Kieran requested me, ‘Properly, what’s the aim of the submit?’ And I mentioned, ‘I need anyone going via one thing just like know that your life isn’t over.’”

As a result of if there’s one factor Milo believes, it’s this: “If I can experience a three-year-old in spite of everything this, anybody can. Something is feasible. Don’t let anybody let you know that you may’t.”

Milo’s fashion within the saddle has advanced, too.

“I’m not as courageous now, and I’m weaker down my proper facet, however I’m a greater rider for it,” he says. “I’m extra smart and tactful. I don’t simply experience via issues anymore. Now I’m extra, ‘Let’s look and make a coaching plan’ – which is healthier for me and the horse.”

And so, Milo rides on.

“Individuals ask, ‘How do you continue to do it?’ And I say, ‘I simply dwell and I’m cussed.’ I dream of competing for Eire on the Olympics, and I don’t wish to give that up. It’s that easy.”

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Oscar graduated from York St John College with a grasp’s diploma in Literature in 2021 and joined Horse & Hound in October 2023. Oscar labored for prime dressage rider Emile Faurie for 4 years after ending an equine administration course in school. Underneath Emile’s tutelage, Oscar competed on the 2015 Nationwide Dressage Championships and travelled with Emile’s horses to CDIs at Aachen, Vidauban, Saumur and Achlieiten. Oscar continues to compete in dressage, alongside his day job.