Kevin Shea has ridden all over the world
Top KZN-based jockey Kevin Shea is hoping to be back in the saddle in about three weeks and is grateful that tests have shown that no long term damage has been caused by a ‘bulged C3 vertebra’.
Shea had his first pain free day on Wednesday having been “through hell” in the previous ten.
He said, “The disc was touching one of the nerves, but is now back in its original place. Thankfully there is no damage to the nerves so I am just giving it another week to settle before starting core training and will then be back riding. Initially I had sharp pains down my legs, terrible back pain and pins and needles and today is the first day I can move around without feeling like I’m going to fall over.”
Shea’s sports medicine consultant is former Sharks team doctor, Craig Springate.
Shea said, “Craig is a believer in finding other ways of fixing a problem than going under the knife and I certainly wouldn’t wanted to have resorted to an operation either. So after some physio and core treatment I should be back in action in about three weeks time.”
There is a possibility that Shea will be renewing his partnership with the brilliant Equus Champion Sprinter Via Africa in Dubai next year, where the Gr 1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1000m on turf on World Cup night is likely to be her chief target.
He said it had been mentioned between himself and Mike de Kock and added that if given the opportunity he would “love to” take it.
The top veteran rider has many years of Dubai experience and said, “She will love the fast conditions out there.”
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