In May 2007, Andrew Lakeman fell from his horse while working as a jockey at Belmont Park. While he survived what was almost a life-threatening accident, the doctors had shocking news: he would never walk again. That didn’t stop Lakeman for a second, who — after just 44 months in recovery — got right back into the race as a trainer.
“Horse therapy” is very much a widely used technique for those who are facing any number of obstacles. Many veterans take advantage of this healing technique, like at the Boulder Crest Retreat, as do patients, like with the Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses. They are incredibly intelligent animals who are able to read the unique emotions and needs of their charges, as Lakeman discovered when he transitioned to work as a trainer.
"[When] working with the horses, it's kind of like they know that I'm in the wheelchair. They kind of sense what's going on. They would never hurt me," he says, mentioning that many people have assumed that the wheelchair might spook them. That turned out to be far from the truth, and several times during the video, you can see Lakeman’s horse turning its head and gently nudging him upon his approach.
The quiet, loving interplay between this man and his horse is beautiful to witness. While Lakeman might have tended to the horses during his tenure as a jockey, it’s now the horses that tend to his own needs as a trainer, and that’s a truly priceless friendship.
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The Paralyzed Jockey Who’s Still in the Race from Great Big Story on Vimeo.
