Reined Cow Horse and Cutting Horse trainer Braden Johns continues to be treated at a Fort Worth hospital for injuries sustained in a grave accident at the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity.
Johns, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was admitted to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital after the Oct. 14 incident with bleeding in his brain stem, a broken collarbone and broken ribs, according to his fiancée, Hannah Swanbom.
Although he was initially unconscious after the accident, Swanbom said he no longer requires ventilator support and has recently opened his eyes. As he regained his breathing function, he also began responding to nurses' requests to move his hands and feet, she said.
“The doctors were very encouraged with all of his vital signs and his appearance,” she said. “Yesterday when he was sitting on the edge of the bed doing occupational therapy, he had both eyes open. It didn’t take long, but it’s a very encouraging sign that those eyes are opening.”
This morning, October 31st, Braden was moved from the ICU to another floor of the hospital. Swanbon said he will undergo evaluations for possible placement in a neurological rehabilitation program in Texas.
Daily improvement
Snaffle Bit Futurity riders signed a boot that served as the centerpiece at the final draw party for his hospital room. * Photo by Hannah Swanbom
One of his injuries affected his brainstem, which connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls vital functions in the body.
“The middle brainstem controls all the things we take for granted,” Swanbom said. “Your breathing and your regulatory system, your temperature, to make sure the rest of your body is functioning properly.”
His parents and financial person Hannah Swanbom lived with him in Fort Worth.
Johns now breathes independently, participates in occupational and physical therapy daily and sits in a neurosurgery chair for up to seven hours a day. The chair sits upright, similar to a recliner, and features a platform that stimulates the feet by applying some pressure to them.
Swanbom said he was much more alert when sitting in the chair and had started moving his legs more and lifting his heels. They also apply familiar smells and sounds to stimulate Braden's brain activity.
“We play music and he, I know he can hear everything we say. It's like, “You better be careful what you say.” “He can hear you,” and he'll probably come back and remind us. We also did some other sensory experiences, such as using a horse brush and some grooming product, which was his favorite smell. So he has a horse brush in it and he reacts when I spray it on the brush,” she said.
Healing through horses
The plan is to take the sensory activities to a up-to-date level this weekend. Along with his physical therapists, Swanbom enlisted the lend a hand of local cutting horse trainer Kory Pounds to get a horse to the hospital.
“His physical therapists have been working on getting approval for a horse so maybe we can do therapy with a horse and stimulate the brain and bring some of that back,” she said. “I don't know how many times this has happened here, but we had contacted a few therapy places and had no luck getting a horse up here. So I called Kory today and said, “Do you have a horse like we could take to the hospital on Saturday?” And he says, “It's done.” I'll be there. What time?'”
Cow-horse community
Kory wasn't the only person to answer such a call. Although Swanbom and the rest of the family never asked, their needs were met by helping hands from across the country.
Pepi Coat conditioner and a brush in Braden's hospital room. * Photo by Hannah Swanbom
“Fortunately, the people were so generous and helped us take care of the things and the horses that were here in Scottsdale and bring them home by trailer,” Swanbom explained.
There is a forceful horse community in both Fort Worth and Scottsdale, and the list of people Swanbon would like to thank is long.
Carol Williamson, Shaleah Hester, Cass Tatum, Kyle Noyce, Richard Winters, Lee Deacon, Taylor Gillespie, Kory Pounds, Ron and LaDona Emmons, Clark Weaver, Lucy and Trey Pool, Allison Bowen and Jay Manning are just a few names on the list People who helped the family during this challenging time.
“I have messages from people who don’t even know Braden. They don't even know me, but they've heard his story and they pray, and that just keeps us forceful. I know that Braden continues to receive their prayers and God works his miracle on him,” Swanbom said. “There have been a few times where the doctors have said, 'We're not really sure why this is happening,' and that's a good thing, and I tell everyone, 'That's OK.' It's a God thing.'”
Along with physical lend a hand from friends and family, a Go Fund Me was created to cover the cost of Braden's hospital bills. People can continue to donate there if they feel called to lend a hand financially.
“When the worst thing in life has happened, people just step up and create. It’s just a blessing,” Swanbom said. “More than anything, I would appreciate your prayers.”
Braden's horse
Jesse Spence also answered a call when he was asked to ride Jewel Rey Von in the Restricted Open final. Bred by Sneed-Pool Cattle Co. Inc., the stallion and Spence achieved a combined score of 607 (208 herds/205 reins/194 cows) in the final. They drew a check for $1,000 for the owner, Chloe Smith.
“I'm just grateful for the opportunity that people cared enough about me to show him this horse,” Spence said.
He explained that a mutual friend of his and Johns volunteered Spence for the ride. He wishes he could have made it to the final under better circumstances. Spence rode three horses after Braden's accident in the preliminaries, so he was able to watch the action from the television screen in the warm-up stable. He said he tried not to let the accident unsettle him as he prepared for the fence work, but the pressure was on when it came to facing Jewel Rey Von in the finale.
“In a situation like this, there are always extra things going through your mind,” Spence said. “You don’t want to let down another man who trained this horse and the owners you just met. I tried to show the exact same thing if it was one I had trained. I’m sure there’s something special there, but I probably put more pressure on myself than anyone else.”
Spence said he met the horse's owner, Chloe Smith, at the show and she gave him a better feel for the situation.
“She was super frosty and just joyful that her horse could be featured,” he said
The horse Braden was riding when the injury occurred is now doing well. It hurt for a few days but had no major injuries, according to Swanbom. Braden also trained two horses for the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity. Cass Tatum has agreed to accept the task of continuing training and showing Hawks Genuine Duel (EBR Kitty Hawk x Little Tappinrey x Dual Rey) and PRF Empire (Stevie Rey Von x PRF Perfection x One Time Pepto) at the NCHA Futurity.
