Critically injured Mount Sinai equestrian now home, in rehab

A Mt. Sinai equestrian who suffered critical injuries in an April riding accident at a New Jersey horse show is now home and undergoing intensive rehabilitation.

Jennifer Post Rudolph, a professional rider and longtime instructor, was left a tetraplegic after the horse she was cantering on fell, according to family reports.

Following spinal surgery, Rudolph spent over a month at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, New Jersey, where therapy focused on regaining limb function.

The rider was discharged on June 20, returning home with the support of family and friends — though earlier than hoped due to insurance restrictions.

“Although more time was believed necessary at the rehab facility, the insurance company made the decision for discharge,” Robert Rudolph, husband and beneficiary of the fundraiser, wrote in a June 22 update on the GoFundMe page.

“She is facing these challenges with grace and positivity,” he added.

Outpatient rehabilitation has begun, supplemented by in-home therapy on off days. Nighttime aides assist with care so family members can rest, her relatives said.

“We’ve had ups and downs and many new challenges, but we keep pushing forward,” Rudolph wrote on July 3. “The support of friends and family has not wavered, thank God.”

Friends have installed wheelchair ramps and are helping acquire a wheelchair-accessible van. The family continues to adapt their home and life to meet Rudolph’s evolving care needs.

Prior coverage

Community rallies for equestrian critically injured in riding accident, raising $28K