Teri Arnold; A Story of Trial and Triumph
Written by Lacie Koford
Western Wasatch Contributor
Overcoming trials and showing triumph seems to be a common occurrence in the local community here in Utah. One such story of trial and triumph is that of Teri Arnold, the wife of Brian Arnold, Saddle Strings band lead singer. Teri’s trial began on May 7, 2019 when her colt lost his footing in the brush, falling to his side with Teri still atop, resulting in the colt landing on Teri’s leg and her head hitting the ground hard. The colt fell over sideways, which launched Teri off, causing her to hit her head and right side hard on the ground, causing a traumatic brain injury. This all happened while the couple was participating in the Golden Spike 150th Celebration Wagon Train she helped organize. She was unconscious for fifteen days and in various hospitals until July 11, 2019. She has had to relearn how to walk, talk, and feed herself, but has regained enough strength to venture back onto her horses a few times. At the time of her release from the hospital, Brian was able to bring her home and become a caretaker for her. Although she has regained many of the skills to get back to her normal life, she still struggles with dizziness, double vision, unsteadiness on her feet, and isn’t driving yet.
Teri grew up always around horses and the western lifestyle. Her parents provided many opportunities for her to learn horsemanship and she honed that skill as she grew older. In her adult years, Teri has had many experiences to continue to develop her equine skills. She worked as a guide at Beaver Creek Lodge for 18 years, she has provided equine counseling services for troubled youth homes, and been on dozens of wagon trains. One such train she was able to join in 2009, where she rode from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Salt Lake City, Utah over a stretch of five years. Every summer the wagon train would take six weeks to ride as far as they could between the two destinations, covering thousands of miles. Teri is also very experienced in starting horses and has always started and trained her own. Right now, Teri and Brian own two horses and one mule. They are in the process of training the mule to pull a buggy.
Teri and Brian continue to work on restoring her health and still have goals they are working on to get her back to full function. Along with some of the symptoms she is still experiencing, numbness in her limbs and tongue has been a challenge. They continue to work with medical professionals to improve her physical conditioning and stamina, improve the circulation in her hands, feet, and brain, and they are working on correcting the numbness. Teri and Brian both relate that their mule is very much emotionally and mentally in tune with Teri’s health and is very careful and steady when he is around her.
The couple has known each other for seven years and have been married for four of those years. They were able to meet through Teri’s daughter who also performs cowboy music. Before the accident, Teri and Brian were cherishing and taking in the love and experiences they had as a newlywed couple, but that love has only grown on both of their parts throughout this trial. It has truly brought them together as they have had to figure out new ways to accommodate Teri’s health and her recovery. They have been so grateful to have loving friends and family rally around them in their time of need this past year. Many acts of service, gifts (both anonymous and known), financial and physical support, and just the wonderful support from friends and family has been received very graciously. They both want those who have helped in their time of need to know how deeply grateful they are for the continued and past support.