Summary
Victoria Ponte, a stroke survivor, regained a sense of freedom and mobility through adaptive horseback riding, defying the expectation that she would never walk or run again.
Abstract
Victoria Ponte's personal essay discusses her journey to regain mobility after a stroke left her paralyzed at age 35. Despite the prognosis that she might never walk or run again, Ponte learned to walk for a second time and soon after began adaptive horseback riding lessons. The experience of horseback riding provided her with a newfound sense of freedom and normalcy, as she found that being on a horse negated her disability. Her story is one of resilience and the transformative power of movement, encapsulated by her participation in the "Movement" photo story challenge. The essay also includes a personal invitation for readers to join Medium through her referral link, supporting her writing and the platform's community of writers.
Opinions
- Victoria Ponte believes that horseback riding gave her the ability to experience movement and freedom that her disability had taken away.
- She holds the opinion that adaptive horseback riding is a form of therapy that can significantly benefit individuals with disabilities, allowing them to engage in activities they love.
- Ponte's experience has led her to appreciate the quote by Winston Churchill, which suggests that interacting with horses can have a profound positive impact on a person's well-being.
- The essay conveys a sense of gratitude towards the horse, which serves as a partner in her journey towards regaining mobility and independence.
- Ponte is an advocate for the power of resilience and the importance of finding alternative ways to achieve one's goals despite physical limitations.
