The “fighting spirit of an entire army in one person” powers professional show jumper Cassandra Kahle as she recovers from a traumatic brain injury suffered in a January fall, according to her mother, Natasha Brash.
Cass, who was in a jumpoff when her horse fell with her, has made huge strides in healing and can now walk on her own, her mother, said, though she keeps a hand through a belt on her daughter’s waist to insure she doesn’t stumble.
Natasha, an equestrian professional from British Columbia, is sharing a room with Cass at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Cass is undergoing rehab there, where she’s a staff favorite. It’s easy to see why for anyone who knows her.
“She finds the best in every situation,” explained her mother, noting that characteristically, “she’s the bright light in the room. We laugh all day long.”
Cass, who is 29, rides with Emil Spadone’s Redfield Farm in Califon, N.J., and Ocala, Fla. She expects to come back to New Jersey with the rest of the crew from that stable next month, though their departure north may be delayed a bit from their usual schedule, Natasha said.
Want to send a card? Here is the address: Cassandra Kahle WFRC108
Shepherd Center
2020 Peachtree Road, NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
Shepherd staffers do memory games with Cass to strengthen her recall ability. But she doesn’t remember the week before her accident, the incident itself and the period of unconsciousness that followed. Her memory is good dating from three weeks ago, according to her mother.
When will she ride again? Perhaps a year after the accident, he mother said, though she thought she might do some therapeutic riding before that.
There has been a huge outpouring of support for 29-year-old Cass, not only from the U.S. but also in Canada, where she rode until she was 21. To show they are thinking of her, riders supporting her wear a Disney character pin on their saddle pads or jackets. Cass is well-known to be a huge fan of Disney and a regular visitor to Disneyworld.