“I think you broke your back,” the doctor said, “I’m sending you for X-rays.”

I stared at him in disbelief. I’m 29 years old and I can’t walk. There was no accident or fall that caused this. I hadn’t been on a horse much since my retired show horses passed away. After three decades of horse shows and riding daily, riding had taken a back seat to my photojournalist career. Will I ever be able to ride again?

My back wasn’t broken, but I was in excruciating pain that lasted weeks. I was told to rest and take ibuprofen. But the news never stops, so neither did I. After a year of being in pain, many days unable to put on my own shoes, I begged my doctor to refer me to a physical therapist. It was life-changing.

The PT told me the discs in my lower back were slipping. “I’ll get you back on a horse,” he said. “We just need to build up your back muscles again.” I did my exercises religiously and gradually got better, but I still had terrible muscle pain. He prescribed riding at the walk only, for 10 minutes at a time until my back was stronger. 

Fast forward to the next year, I got a new job, in a new city, and I met a new horse. A sweet paint named Andrew, Andy for short. I needed a horse I could continue to rebuild strength and stamina, but at my pace. He was perfect.

I noticed CBD products at a local health food store. I had never used anything like this before, but had done a story recently on CBD and heard great results. I tried the sample. 

How it Helps

I almost cried after putting on the CBD lotion on my back. It was instant relief. I spent the $20, which I thought seemed extravagant on a journalist’s salary, and I have not looked back since.

The initial relief allowed me to move more, do more, and be pain-free for the first time in years. I now do yoga regularly and ride as much as I want because, after three years of leasing Andy, I bought him. And while I miss the days of horse showing, I know that Andy and I were meant to be because he is the perfect horse for me while I heal and grow stronger.

Every day I sit on my horse is a good day—some days I just need to apply CBD lotion after.