Phoenix Farm

So some tough news to share tonight. John has had another stroke, and is currently hospitalized. It’s in a different but related part of the brain from his previous stroke. His symptoms are in someways better than his previous stroke and in someways worse. He again had a very atypical presentation, I guess he just likes being different. He’s doing OK, and we’re still very early to know what things will look like going forward, but I’ll keep everybody posted. He’s pretty sedated right now and his speech has been affected, so it’s best not to reach out to him directly, but I’m happy to pass on well wishes. I’m thankful to my family for their unwavering support. We will keep moving forward.

All goats are ADGA and AGS registered/registerable. Taking offers on the adults as I need to reduce my numbers. DM for more info.

I’m very pleased to announce that, effective immediately, my assistant, Jazmin Holguin, is beginning her as trainer here at Phoenix Farm, as I slowly back away.

Jazmin has been my assistant for the last two years, after being a working student for several years before that. She has been been training with me, and with Heather first, for the last 10 years. While she is short on competitive experience, she has extensive experience in working with the different kinds of horses that we’ve had here over the last decade, as well as dealing with horses in difficult situations, like the fires from which we evacuated in 2017 and 2019. Consequently, she’s a knowledgeable and confident handler and trainer of horses, on the ground and an their backs. And she is a lot of fun to be with and to talk to!

Certainly a primary reason for this change is facing the realities of my stroke, which happened now five months ago. While I’ve made a fantastic recovery from a potentially fatal condition—I’ve been riding my beloved mare Alba for two months now and I’ve been teaching again for more than two months too—but I will no longer be able to ride young or green horses for other people again.

But I’m not disappearing! I still have two wonderful horses to ride, and Phoenix Farm is our home. So I’ll be continuing to coach, advise and probably annoy Jazmin as she helps people accomplish their goals with their horses, which may be just to just enjoy riding.

If you’d like more information, please feel free to contact me.

Another big day today—for the first time in five years, I rode Alba, whose been retired for that time. If the name doesn’t jog your memory, I competed he for eight years, from beginner novice to intermediate, under the show name of Firebolt.

Alba, now 20, was one of my two best event horses, and she was always wonderful to ride. So I decided it would be fun for the two of us to dotter around together, starting today.

And it was great to look between those little red ears of hers and to do a few leg-yields at the walk. I think she liked being back in work too.

Thanks to Bentley for riding Alba for a few minutes before I did, because she was a bit too on her toes at first!

Today was a big day. We’re observing the golden three-month mark since my stroke, and so today I rode for the first time since the end of August. And it was tremendous success, and I feel on top of the world, as you can imagine.

My mount today was Fable, 19, whom my sister, Karin, bred and was the first horse we started when we started under saddle when we opened our business in 2006. My assistant, Jazmin Holguin, has owned him since 2014 and helped me today.

I was able to walk and trot, and I’m very pleased to say that I was neither out of breath nor exhausted by the effort! I was actually ecstatic and feeling good!

I thought many of you might be interested in a stroke update:

It’s now been 10 weeks, and I’m very much improved and able to do things, thanks to physical, occupational and speech therapy and to the support of my wife and son, Heather’s family, and friends.

Yesterday was a very big day: I fed all of animals on the farm by myself for the first time. And I was exhausted. But I did it. And I managed to help Heather feed at night and then did about a half hour of tractor work spreading the new footing in the indoor arena. And I didn’t hit anything with the tractor or the Mule that we use to feed!

The biggest problems are lack of endurance and my memory. I have about a 45-minute window to do anything, and then I’m out of breath and exhausted. No one can tell me when, and if, that will get better. And I find holes in my memory, especially in things people say to me. I guess that’s not completely new?

The next step is to try riding again. Coming soon. . .

Look. Who’s. HOME!

John got sprung today from Santa Clara. We’re still at the beginning of his journey rather than the end, and next week starts home health, more kinds of therapy than you can shake a stick at, and figuring out next steps, but for now we’re grateful he’s home with Wes and I. And of course he wanted to go see his girls right away (and they surpringly cool about the wheelchair). John Strassburger

So I didn’t update yesterday because everything was just uncertain. And I’ve learned in the last 48 hours to not get attached to any plan, because they are very much in flux. But. As of right now the plan is for John to go to acute rehab in Santa Clara tomorrow. They are expecting him to be there about a week, and then he’ll come home to do more therapy in home and out patient.

He’s continuing to have improvements, though they aren’t coming fast enough for Mr. Achiever 😜 so we’re fighting some low spirits. I keep telling him, this too shall pass.

A few shout outs. First, my fantastic employer, Windsor Unified School District for their compassion and assistance as I’ve had to navigate these waters. Love my work family.

Second my amazing family. I love you all and am so lucky to have you.

Finally, our barn family has stepped up helped to such an amazing degree. We couldn’t do this without you.

Please keep a good thought for us, there’s still aways to go.