“She is back with us,” trainer Emil Spadone said today about show jumper Cassandra Kahle, who was in a coma after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a fall from her horse at a show last month.
Cassie, a 29-year-old professional rider, moved a week ago from a Florida hospital to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, where one of the specialties is treating brain injuries.
“She is feeling much better,” noted Emil, who owns Redfield Farm in Ocala, Fla., and Califon, N.J., where Cassie rides and trains.
Cassandra Kahle.
“Now that she is over the hump of the pneumonia and other infections, she is making remarkable progress. I see in her eyes she is back with us.
“She is awake and whispering to communicate. She has moments where she is still a bit confused, but the doctors say this is to be expected.”
She fell on her left side when her horse took a tumble during a jump-off in a 1.40-meter class at HITS in Ocala on Jan. 29.
Emil commented previously she had a large bruise on her side as evidence of the fall’s severity. Now, however, her left side is getting stronger, he noted, and she can move her left leg.
“Left arm we hope is next. Still working hard in physical therapy. We are all thrilled with this week’s progress.”
When the Redfields crew returns to New Jersey after the Florida shows end, she can go to the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange on either an inpatient or outpatient basis, Emil has speculated.
Kessler is where 2008 dressage Olympian Courtney King Dye did her rehab in 2010 to recover from a serious head injury after her fall from a young horse.
Cassie Kahle in action. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Thousands of people have been following the progress of Cassie, a Canadian citizen who is very popular on the circuit.
A GoFundMe page to cover medical and rehab expenses for Cassie has been started by Liz Schindler McFadden. Click here to donate.
The fund is less than $2,000 short of its $150,000 goal.
“As a testament to Cassandra’s generous and loving spirit, her family will eventually donate any unused funds from this Go Fund Me to a charity of Cassie’s choosing,” Liz stated.
“We know the day will come when Cassie wakes up and learns of the generosity of this wonderful community and her first inclination will be to pay that forward.”
Emil hopes his insurance and workman’s compensation can pay for much of Cassie’s costs, though these situations are always tremendously expensive and not everything needed can be anticipated.
Cassie is an accomplished rider who won the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National last year and the World Champion Hunter Rider Pro Challenge at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in 2019.
