Conference noted::equitation

    Who's he?
    

Actor.  As in 'Superman'

Update on the news last night and this morning...

Christopher Reeves: damage to top two vertebra with possible spinal cord
damage.  He's currently on a respirator and appears to be paralyzed :( 
Prognosis is uncertain at this time. 

Also, in the latest Chronical, event rider Mike St. Denis (Ontario, Canada) 
suffered a serious head injury presumed to be caused by a kick in the head 
by a 2 year old he was turning out (he was found unconscious in the 
paddock).  He is out of critical care but faces months of rehab :(

    
    Hello,
    
    I've just printed off all the replies to show to the kids in our Pony
    Club.  We always maintain that they cannot ride without their
    back-protectors on, no matter what they are doing, even lungeing.
    
    Most of our members are girls and they even keep hats on to turn out 
    ponies, because they are so vain they say that their hair is a mess 
    underneath their hats !!  It's a standing joke with us that if they
    coudl they would wear them to bed !
    
    These replies will show them that they can never be too safe.
    
    
    Regards
    Sandra
    
    
    

    
    The first I heard of this was last night when I got home from riding
    and my husband, in a very serious tone, told me about it.
    
    From what I read in the paper this morning, it does not sound very
    promising that he will recover.  It says the injuries he sustained
    usually prove to be fatal.  He fractured his first and second cervical
    vertebrae, the top two bones in the neck.
    
    It says that ironically, he is playing a man who is paralyzed in the
    current HBO movie Above Suspicion.
    
    The report says even if he survives, the prognosis doesn't look good.
    Though fixing the broken bones is possible using metal screws, there is
    no way to make damaged spinal-cord nerve cells regrow, that is what
    cripples.
    
    In a previous note, it stated that his horse ran in "unbridled"? Can
    someone explain this? Did he not have a bridle on??
    
    This was very sad to hear.
    
    

    I suspect the horses bridle was ripped off his head during the spill. 
    I've seen this happen if the rider is somehow caught up on the reins or
    holding them.  Or, he could have stepped on the reins and broken the
    bridle apart.  Anything could have happened.
    - JB

    Where can I get a back-protector??
    
    G.
    

    
    Stateline carries a padded vest for eventing and jumping.
    
    Course, it won't protect you if you fall on your head, as it seems was
    Christophers case.  He went headlong into the ground.
    
    Mary
    

    Thanks Mary.  A guy that takes lessons where I do had an incident
    last week when jumping. He fell twice (2 refusals) and fractured
    his hip.  This whole thing psyches me out.  Maybe I ought not
    to jump.  I'm not sure it's all worth the risk.
    
    g.

> horse returning to barn w/o bridle...

  Consider a rider which is too far forward to begin with, maybe even jumping 
  ahead, maybe having a weak seat/legs.... and then the rider's horse stops 
  with its neck extended and nose close to the ground...

  Without the neck raised to brace against, the rider can end up sliding down
  (launched down) the horse' neck ... it would be very easy to take the bridle
  off in the process -- hey, I would be grabbing anything to not come off!!
  Ears if they're available!  (check my saddle sometime -- there are spur
  gouges from staying-on while half-off at a gallop)  

  I'm not saying that that's what happened, but it's another way the bridle 
  could have parted from the horse.

  Was C.R. wearing a vest?  Would a vest minimize injury if he landed on the 
  top of his head?  I doubt it -- it isn't designed to prevent the spine from 
  head-on to tail-on compression.  I see it as a means to minimize injury from
  the *side* of the body.  To minimize that compression, we'd need to wear
  neck braces as well.  The helmut protected his head, but not the rest of his
  body from the compression (if he indeed landed on the top of his head).

  Very tragic.  The part of the story that really upsets me is that it took
  **30 MINUTES** to get the abulance there!!  

					-Caroline

    
    Gail,
    
    Accidents happen.  Just two weeks ago I was sitting on Zak and my
    riding partner asked for a copy of the tests we were doing, he spooked
    and I landed on my butt, nothing injured.  Then I have to work out the
    nervousness to get back to where I was.  It is a risk we take every
    time we get into the saddle.
    
    I don't jump, but things can happen and it is a risk, like any other
    sport.  
    
    This was an unfortunate accident.  We ask alot of these animals, and
    most the the time they give their all.  
    
    Mary
    

    Well, I'm not a cross country fan anyhow, but even jumping over 
    simple fences *increases* your risk of injury.
    
    I love riding too much to give it up, but I am questioning for
    myself whether I want that increased risk or do I just want
    to concentrate on the flat.  I'll have to see how I feel when
    it comes time for next week's lesson.  If I happen to be lacking
    in confidence, I'm not going to jump at all.
    
    I have made the decision that if I continue, it will be to work
    on what I've done so far, and not to carry it much further (i.e.
    higher fences, more speed, etc.)  
    
    I don't have anything to prove - I just want to enjoy myself
    and keep the risk factor down a bit.

    
    I agree with Gail, everytime I hear of these accidents I start
    to wonder if I should stick to flatwork too.  But accidents can
    and do happen no matter what "type" of riding you do.
    
    Does anyone know what type of helmet he was wearing?  Would
    a "protective" type help in a case like that more than just
    a hunt cap type?
    
    I just bought a new jumper, I'm nervous!
    
    
    
    
    

    I'm not sure what kind of helmet he was wearing, but I just got
    more info - he was catapulted from his horse (headfirst) at 
    such a speed, that he wasn't even able to break his fall with
    his hands - he landed on his head full tilt.  The helmet probably
    did it's job, but the bones in the neck can't withstand that
    kind of force.
    
    He's been riding for years and he's in top physical condition.
    I on the other hand, gave up riding for 17 years and just took
    it up again a year ago April.
    
    I don't know.  (lucky you - a new horse!).  I guess the main
    thing to do is take it slow, and anticipate, and if you have
    any doubt about a particular jump or obstacle, don't do it.
    (I've had a few doubts here and there and I was usually
    right - he refused).  
    
    This accident is so upsetting and really sad.
    
    Gail

    
    
    I've started taking jumping lessons recently myself and have been
    cantering small courses.  I would think that I can (hopefully)
    reduce my risk by not rushing anything.  Take plenty of time to 
    strengthen both yourself and the horse so that the work is not overtaxing.
    Plus take the time in the flatwork to know how to fix the problems.  
    Gradually increase the size and type of jumps so that you retain the horses 
    confidence.  Know what your horse may question and be there with 
    supportive aids, and probably most important -- get good coaching!
    
    I do think that although there are ways to minimize risk, there's
    no quarantee you'll never be injured given the nature of this sport.
                                                                
    Another note: my niece has a Troxel helmut and I really like the
    design (and are ASTM approved).  It's more like a bike helmet and very
    light.  I would think that thick styrofoam padding will feel a little
    better, in a head impact, than the hard plastic shell of a regular
    ASTM helmut.
    
     
              

Does anyone know if he hit the fence first or the ground? Training level fences
aren't that high.

I love to jump - the only thing that scares me is that the cross country courses
that I have been on had very few, if any, fences that would come down when you
hit them. I have taken a bridle off of a horse myself - led the fall with my
hands forward and slid the bridle right off with my thumbs...not pretty..

Poor Chris, I just saw him on CNBC the other night talking about the spotted owl
habitats. He seems like a very nice person. I hope he survives this :-(

    A couple of bruises, a broken wrist or arm, a couple of days of
    soreness, even a broken leg - all possible, but a broken neck,
    well, let's just say it's less likely doing flatwork than it
    is jumping.  Risk is risk.
    
    I know this is never going to be my career, I know at this
    point in my particular life I'm never gonna make it to 
    the big time.  I'm keeping to 3 ft. and under, and I don't
    mind being a chicken.  This really shook me up.
    You can fix the problems, but no human can really know what
    makes an animal do what they do or why.
    
    g

I understand that Christopher was wearing a helmet.  Helmets can help with 
head injuries and chest protectors can help minimize chest and abdominal 
injuries.  Neither can really help with a cervical spinal injury (the 
cervical spine is the top 5 vertebra).  Wearing them will help minimize a 
problem but there is still risk.  

I figure that all of life is full of risks and you just have to weight the
enjoyment or necessity of what you're doing against the risk and hope you pick
correctly... :)

    
    Now, for all of us going out for a lesson, a ride or a hack this week
    and weekend....... relax, enjoy and don't get overly nervous, just ride
    as business as usual.
    
    And enjoy! :>)
    
    Mary
    

    
    I watched the Today program today and they had on a
    friend/witnes (and horse person) on.  She said that
    the ride was going very well, the horse and chris 
    looked great and it was nice a relazed.
    
    The horse jumped a few  jumps nicely - then headed
    for the zig-zag (between 3' - 3'6") - the horse
    gathered up his stride and proceded to jump over it.
    (his frount legs were up in the air back feet still
    on the ground) and Chris got up in his jumping
    position - then for some reason w/out warning the horse
    backed off the jump - well Chris had already committed his
    body to the jump and the  momentum could not be stopped.
    
    Chris kept going over the jump - his legs went just about 
    infrount of him as his head landed on the ground.
    
    The friend has seen alot of falls and knew that this one
    was the worst.
    
    Lou

    "Enjoy" being the operative word!
    
    g

      <<< TURRIS::DISK$NOTES_PACK2:[NOTES$LIBRARY]WOMANNOTES-V5.NOTE;1 >>>
                        -< Topics of Interest to Women >-
================================================================================
Note 37.1668        "In the News" (clips only, no discussion)       1668 of 1671
IJSAPL::VISSERS "Web Watcher"                       126 lines   2-JUN-1995 04:56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Superman actor Christopher Reeve, thrown from horse, is dependent on
    respirator


    (c) 1995 Copyright the News & Observer Publishing Co.

    (c) 1995 N.Y. Times News Service
                                    
    (Jun 2, 1995 - 01:48 EDT) Actor Christopher Reeve remains paralyzed,
    breathing only with the aid of a mechanical respirator at the
    University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, his doctor
    said Thursday.

    Reeve, 42, who starred as Superman in several movies and recently
    played a wheelchair-bound detective in a cable television movie, is
    alert and can communicate "by mouthing words," but cannot make sounds
    because a breathing tube has been inserted into his windpipe, said Dr.
    John A. Jane, who heads the hospital's department of neurosurgery.

    Reeve is paralyzed from the neck down, Jane said at a news conference
    Thursday afternoon. Reeve was thrown from a horse at a horse trial last
    Saturday and was reported in "serious but stable" condition Thursday
    night.

    Reeve, who wore a helmet, suffered fractures of the first and second
    cervical vertebrae in the fall, damaging the spinal cord at the base of
    the brain where it joins the spinal cord. Such damage is known as a
    high cervical injury. It is generally irreversible, experts in spinal
    cord injuries said in interviews.

    "This is a devastatingly dreadful injury," said Dr. Paul Cooper, a
    brain surgeon at New York University Medical Center who is not involved
    in Reeve's case. "If you are demented, you don't know it, but here, not
    only do you know it, but you can't do anything about it."

    Common causes of high cervical injury are car and diving accidents,
    which usually result in death before the person can be rescued.

    Reeve may have survived because paramedics were on the scene and gave
    him mouth-mouth resuscitation when they found he was not breathing
    after the fall.

    The accident occurred when Reeve's horse, Eastern Express, bolted as it
    approached a hurdle during the first day of a three-day Spring Horse
    Trials of the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association
    in Culpeper.

    Gigi Winslett, a course designer for Commonwealth Park, where the
    accident occurred, said Reeve had performed well during the dressage
    phase, and had begun the cross-country phase.

    "The horse stopped, and he was thrown over the horse's head," Ms.
    Winslett said, adding that fewer than a dozen spectators witnessed the
    accident.

    John E. Reynolds, the owner of Commonwealth Park, said the
    six-foot-four Reeve "landed square on his head."

    The hurdle, called a vertical, zigzag fence, is 35 to 36 inches high
    and is "not considered one of the more difficult fences," Ms. Winslett
    said. She rated the difficulty a three on a scale of 10. When a horse
    balks the way Reeve's did, it is called "refusing."

    "Most of the time when a horse refuses, the rider stays on the horse,"
    Ms. Winslett said. "Usually, they attempt a second or a third time.
    This was the first attempt."

    Reynolds said that "the horse came to the jump and just stopped, the
    horse kind of leaned, and Chris rolled down the horse's neck, onto the
    other side of the jump. A freak accident. He just hit a bad spot." The
    horse was unhurt.

    Reeve was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Culpeper, and then flown
    by helicopter about 44 miles to the University of Virginia in
    Charlottesville.

    In recent years, researchers have shown that injections of steroids
    within a few hours of a spinal cord injury can reduce the severity of
    damage in some cases. Presumably, Reeve received this standard therapy
    at the hospital in Culpeper or Charlottesville.

    The spinal cord is a compact, rope-like bundle of nerves that is a
    common pathway carrying nerve impulses between the brain and the rest
    of the body. When the cord is damaged, for instance from broken
    vertebrae, the symptoms that develop depend on where in the cord the
    injury occurs.

    The reason high cervical injuries are so devastating is that they cut
    all the wires that control breathing and movement of arms and legs and
    other vital functions.

    Specifically, there is no stimulation of the nerves to make the
    diaphragm contract. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates chest
    and abdomen and that aids in breathing. A high cervical injury also
    knocks out the nerves that control the intercostal muscles between the
    ribs, which also aid in breathing.

    Jane said that surgery to repair the broken vertebrae might be
    performed next week. Such surgery is usually done to stabilize bone
    fragments but will not restore neurological function.

    Jane also said, "It is premature to speculate about his long-term
    prognosis." In the initial stages of his rehabilitation, Reeve faces
    many life-threatening complications, including infections. If Reeve
    survives, experts said, he will probably need a respirator to breathe
    and may need round-the-clock nursing care.

    Asked whether Reeve had signed a living will or left instructions about
    his care if he suffered a catastrophic illness, Louise Dudley, a
    spokeswoman for the University of Virginia, said she did not know.

    Reeve performed many of the stunts in his movies. But in a recent
    interview with The Associated Press, Reeve said horse jumping was "the
    most dangerous thing I do." He said he had been thrown from his horse
    in a similar event in 1993 in Calgary, Canada.

    Reeve agreed to appear in a poster that he wrote to promote safe horse
    riding. The poster, which has not been released, shows him jumping a
    fence on horseback and reads: "In films I've played an invincible hero
    -- but in real life I wouldn't think of riding without a helmet."

    "I did like a field goal through the horse's ears," Reeve said in the
    interview. "He put on the brakes very suddenly and I kept going and
    went head over heels and landed on my knees and was none the worse for
    wear, but a number of people watching went 'Ooh!' "
     

    
    Front of todays Globe shows a picture of an instructor taking a horse
    over a jump, no helmet on.
    
    Says Reeves just did an ad campaign for riding safety.  He is on a
    poster jumping a fence with his horse Denver and the caption reads "I
    played an invincible here, but in real life I wouldn't think of riding
    without a helmet".
    
    He had one on the day of his accident.  Says his horse just stopped
    abruptly at the 3 foot fence.
    
    ALso, under the AHSA rules, helmets are mandartory during shows.  The
    vests designed to disperse the impact of a blow will become mandatory
    on December 1st according to a spokeswoman of the AHSA.
    
    There is no equipment available now to protect the neck. The article
    says that things are under development now but experienced riders say a
    neck covering would limit their mobility.
    
    The article has J. Michael Plump comments in it.  He has been named to
    several Olympic teams.  He says he worries about the "weekend" riders
    who do no practice and are trying to do things beyond their expertise. 
    The says they are not respectful of the rules and regulations and even
    on the best day the most experienced rider can get hurt.  He says he
    wishes people would talk more about the fundamentals of riding, think
    more about helmets and vests and riding too quickly.
    
    Mary
    

    
    According to an interview with Chris's mother last night, she said his
    breathing had improved.  The doctors will know in a few days exactly
    how much damage he has done.
    
    They showed an interview with a cop who is in the same condition.  His
    gun accidently discharged, and he is now in a wheel chair with a
    respirator.  He said that he knows what Christopher is going threw and
    told him not to give up, that is will be a long haul, but to not give
    up, keep fighting.
    
    Mary
    

    This is a terrible tradegy, to be sure.  From all accounts, Mr Reeves
    knew the risks and did his best to protect himself (don't worry,
    John, I didnt' know who he was either :-) - but accidents happen. It
    is just as easy to fall off, hit a rock, and get killed during a nice,
    quiet hack; or to get kicked in the head turning a horse out, feeding
    a horse, etc.  How many people wear helmets doing barnwork?  I for
    one, never ever get on a horse without protective headgear.  If you are
    going to have horses, you need to be aware of the risks and weight them
    against the pleasure the hobby brings you.  
    
    Gwen, or anyone else, who is concerned about safety particularly while 
    jumping is clearly an intelligent adult who is capable of making her
    own decisions.  If you are unsure you feel safe jumping - dont jump!
    There is absolutely NO reason anyone has to jump over fences to be
    a talented, respected, and accomplished rider.  You can, and will, find
    another aspect of riding that is enjoyable, rewarding, and fullfilling
    - without doing fences.  Anyone who may think you are 'chicken', or
    'not good enough' to jump is inexperienced and uneducated.
    
                                       

    Thanks - I appreciate that!  After all, the best part of this
    sport is to have fun, not be scared to death.  I probably
    will continue to jump, but as an example, I was told Monday
    at a small show to take a practice jump (there were two 
    jumps actually, and I was asked to come in at a very odd
    angle and just do one) - I didn't feel right about it,
    so I said - Mind if I jump them both - that angle is
    not comfortable.  
    
    By the way - I'm with you - I put my helmet on before I
    get into the barn!
    
    I really really hate this accident stuff - every time I 
    hear of a bad one, it makes me step back alittle!
    
    Gail

    
    I am holding a jumping clinic on Saturday at Shepley Hills, I think it
    would be a good time to go over some simple safty issues.  I allready
    know one person wont attend the clinic if it's raining due to 
    Mr. Reeves fall.  They just dont want to take the risk of slipping
    on the grass and having an accident.
    
    LKP

    Louisa, after the clinic, could you give us an overview
    in here of some safety tip?  Any help I can get...
    
    Gail

    I agree with Linda in that if you're afraid to jump, don't jump. Not
    only is it not fun to do something that frightens you but, if you're
    scared, the horse will be too and that will be more likely to lead to
    refusals and/or accidents.(BTW, thanks Linda for saying you didn't know
    who he is either. We don't watch many movies and never saw any of the
    Superman movies. Jan says we did see 1 movie that Reeve played in but
    it was more than 10 years ago. John says "Who pays attention to the
    credits?" ;-)
    
    Personally, I wouldn't get too worried by an accident to somebody else.
    People are injured and get paralyzed every day in car accidents,
    crossing the street, playing football, etc etc etc... We still have to
    get back in the car and drive or cross the street or whatever. 
    
    So, if it's something you *want* to do, there are ways to overcome the 
    fear.

    I love the jumping, just really need to keep a cap on the speed
    and height.  Just sort of keep things on the safer side.
    
    It's been said (and it's true) accidents happen no matter what you
    do, and there's no way you can be thinking of those possibilities
    every time you do the slightest thing (and I agree with that too!)
    
    I guess the thing is - do whatever is within your personal 
    comfort zone - for me, that's capping off at 3 ft.
    
    Like any accident you hear about, the bad ones do make one
    stop and think!  After a while, you forget, til the next
    accident, when you're reminded.
    
    I like to hope I learn from those accidents if I can.
    Pushing things too far, too fast, and being afraid in the
    process, is an accident waiting to happen.

    Just picked this up from internet. This report says that Reeve was
    competing over his level. Other internet reports said he had had
    similar falls in the past and blamed it on poor riding and his
    instructor for allowing/encouraging him to compete above his skill level.
    
    John
    
Article 46794 of rec.equestrian:
From: [email protected]_Email_Address (eg. [email protected])
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Jumping dangerous/Reeves incident
Date: 1 Jun 1995 15:54:01 GMT

  There has been a lot of worry raised since Mr. Reeves terrible injury
about the hazards of jumping and eventing. My instructor and several
friends were at Commonwealth park competing that day and had 
observed his riding thru dressage and warm-up prior to the cross country
phase where he took his fall. I realize that this may offend or upset but here
goes. These ladies had been watching Mr. Reeves and discussing his riding.

  The general impression was of a stiff, loose, novice rider competing above
his level of competency on a hot, excited horse. His trainer was urging him
to keep the horse going forward. He has a stop and fell. These are not
my own observations but my instructor who is a kind and seldom critical
person thought he probably shouldn't have been entered in Training Level.

  A lot of people try to shortcut riding. Many instructors will move students up
to bigger fences and tougher courses because the horse can do it while the
rider spends insufficient hours in the saddle to develope a "tight" secure
position. A friend who is an adult male novice rider relays to me weekly
his experiences in riding class. These riders only ride once a week but
are currently being taught to jump. I know how my friend rides and he 
should have a lot more hours in the saddle first.  He admits that he flops 
around and just barely stays on the horse. 

  It is not jumping that is so terribly hazardous but attempting to do something
that you are not physically and mentally ready for. Personally all my worst
falls have been from walking horses. I've had and seen several bad head
injuries that happened because helmets were not worn. No jumping involved.

  Jumping takes a high level of muscle tone and strength besides other factors.
This is not aquired by pleasure riding or casually hacking round the ring. It 
takes a commitment of hours of sweat and effort. If you can't make that 
commitment then go for a nice ride, and put your helmet on first!

Bonnie S.  

�  <<< Note 1978.32 by DECWET::JDADDAMIO "Seattle:Life in the espressolane" >>>
�                    -< Internet reports blaim poor riding >-

�    Just picked this up from internet. This report says that Reeve was
�    competing over his level. Other internet reports said he had had
�    similar falls in the past and blamed it on poor riding and his
�    instructor for allowing/encouraging him to compete above his skill level.
    
John,

Thanks for posting this.  It's always scary to see something like this 
happen (hey, it reminds me of my own vulnerability :)

If he indeed had a trainer who allowed him on a horse and on a course above 
his ability levels this is tragic.  Not very responsible for the trainer 
but he also should have been able to be honest about his own abilities.

I find it's not always easy to admit that you're in over your head but 
around horses, it may save your life.  And, if you've got a trainer that 
pushes the wrong horse or asks you for more than you are capable of, maybe 
a trainer change is in order.

I (and my horse) are both in training at the moment.  At each step in 
either of our progress, if I've had doubts about my abilities or safety, 
the trainer has been there to back me up.  First few times I even rode my 
horse (a young, off the track thoroughbred), it was on a lunge line so if 
there was *any* problem, help was immediately available.

I've spent the last few weeks learning to ride bareback (working on 
balance) and a bit on falling off (not a bad skill to learn a controlled 
bail-out if one is required).  All of these exercises have also really 
helped in my confidence.

The trainer has been very good in pushing me to do things I lack confidence
in but never pushing me to where I've been fearful or concerned about my
safety. 

If your trainer is asking for things that don't work for you, find another 
one... riding is great fun and should stay that way! :)  (gee, don't we all 
sound the same?)

    My instructor also said a friend of hers has seen Christopher Reeves
    ride, and that he was in over his head.
    
    I've heard other similar remarks as well.  
    
    g

From the "Today Show" today.

Christopher has pneumonia in 1 lung (which isn't uncommon with this type of 
injury).

Drs. will performing surgery today to fuse C1 and C2 (top two vertebra in 
spinal column) to skull.

He currently has some feeling in the top of his shoulders and upper front 
of chest (which would indicate that the spinal cord is damaged but not 
severed at the C1/C2 level).

    Christopher is well known in our parts, too. Vienna KURIER put his
    photograph on the front page of it's Saturdays' edition.
    
    There're two aspects to this sad story. As my oncle who was
    RAF pilot during WWII put it: "It's not a feat to be the best
    fighter pilot, but it's a feat to be the oldest one." - this
    being my translation from Polish ;-)
    
    All TV fans and especially the kids will miss the new Superman
    series.
    
    So what could we learn. Just have a look at our discussion about
    safety helmets - just a few months ago.
    
    I hope that medicine may do some wonders for Chris!
    
    	Maciej
    

    Hallo Maciej! 
    
    It's been quite some time since we heard from you! Glad you're still
    with us...
    
    Like your uncle, many of our pilots have a similar saying: "There are
    bold pilots. There are old pilots. But, there are no old bold pilots!"
    
    wiederschauen
    John

From the news this morning.  Surgery on Monday was successful (it should 
allow him to sit up but will not fix the spinal cord damage - sitting up 
will help minimize getting pneumonia).

Yesterday (Tuesday) Drs were able to raise his bed up a bit.  His condition 
is still serious.

    It's been 2 weeks since anyone mentioned his condition, does anyone
    know the latest from the Doctors and all?
    
    FYI, at the Groton House I event this past weekend they had a big card
    for all the competitors to sign which I thought was very nice. I'm sure
    he appreciates all the concern.
    
    Shawn

    He had an operation to remove bone chips and fuse 2 neck vertebrae.
    He's regaining some movement but is not yet off the respirator. No
    prediction on if/when he'll get off the respirator.

    
    It was in the paper that he can sit up, eat and breath.
    
    This is good news!!
    
    Mary
    

    Cool! I lost track of his progress when he was transferred to a NJ
    hospital. One of the rec.equestrian correspondents just happened to be
    the public realtions officer of the VA hospital he was originally at.

    Wow - he is breathing on his own now?  That's great news.
    
    g.

    
    I don't think so.  They had photos of him on TV last night being cared
    for.  Seems one of the rag magazines is publishing photos of him in the
    hospital.  
    
    It does not look like he is breathing on his own. The photos are very
    sad looking, but they say he is in really good spirits.
    
    Mary
    

    Hi Mary - welcome back!  Yes, after I wrote that note, I read an
    article that said he is still on the respirator, but he seems to
    be doing alittle better as far as limited movement, etc.
    
    How unbelievably difficult it must be for him and his family.
    Makes me count my blessings.

    
    I saw on ET the other night, but CR has figured out how to talk while
    on the resperator. and he also has this tube that he can blow into and
    do things like (move his wheel chair, turn on/off Tv and lights)
    
    They still say his spirits are super.
    
    

Source :

	http://www.wsmith.com/equilinq/news/reeve.htm


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                              - EQUILINQ NEWS -

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Reeve wants to return to work

Throw away those supermarket tabloids and listen to the real news concerning
Christopher Reeve. He is far from trying to kill himself and begging to die,
as one trash magazine claimed in a recent cover story. In fact, days after
the tabloid came out, Reeve's wife held a press conference with a much
brighter outlook.

Not only did Dana Reeve tell the media that Christopher--who was paralyzed
from the neck down by a freak fall during a cross country event in May--not
only is in good spirits, but hopes to return to some form of work after his
release from the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

Dana said her husband would like to return to the film industry behind the
camera, possibly as a director, or at least return to work as a guest
speaker. Reeve, best known for his Superman movies and his love for
equestrian events, is eating solid food and able to talk, though he still
needs a respirator to breath.

Reeve hopes to be released from the long-term rehabilitation clinic by the
end of the year. Well wishers can write him at the Kessler Institute for
Rehabilitation, c/o Christopher Reeve, Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ
07052-1149.

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    His interview with Barbra Walters was incredible last Friday. I had a
    hard time at first watching it, but I couldn't turn it off. He has
    great spirit!!!  His positive attitude was just overwhelming.
    
    He feels this happened for a reason and he thanks god for everything he
    has.
    
    Very powerful interview.
    
    Mary