Jennifer Casey is a physical therapist, clinician, businesswoman and breakaway roper who has dealt with the extreme effects of brain injuries first hand.

Casey was in college in 1996 when she sustained what she believes was a diffuse axonal TBI in a barrier accident. While she still doesn’t remember that day, it changed her entire life. She had early acceptance into vet school, but the lasting effects of her brain injury led her to move into physical therapy, instead.

Professional after professional questioned her decision to keep breakaway roping. For Casey, the answer was simple: she loved it. Fast forward nearly two decades to 2015, and Casey was pushing—and succeeding—at getting breakaway added to Northwestern ProRodeos.

She got their foot in the door at Coeur d’Alene, then Coulee City. Finally Kennewick, Ellensburg and Pendleton jumped on the breakaway bandwagon.

Now, Casey is on track for her third Columbia River Circuit Championship—currently leading the field by more than $5,000 with a total of $21,660 won. The Breakaway Roping Journal team wanted to catch up with the breakaway benefactor to hear more about her business, breakaway story and the horse that got her to the top of the Columbia River Circuit Standings.

BRJ: What does a day look like for you these days? What do you do?

JC: “I am a physical therapist with special ed students in a school district, and I’m working in all elementary schools this year. I do that and my coaching business, which is my main focus. My business is called the ‘Brain + Body Method.’ That’s my passion.”

What’s your year been like on the circuit this year?

I get to go to Circuit Finals this year, which was my goal. I haven’t gotten to go these last two years. I had a [concussion] almost three years ago. I fell off a horse in November 2021, and it really set me back. I was sleeping for hours on end, couldn’t function. I would go to rodeos, run down the arena and not throw my rope. I would nod my head and my vision would black out.

So getting to go to circuit finals this year, that’s huge. It’s not about the standings, because the true competitor is with myself. How do I keep showing up for myself every day? Even now, I don’t see [normally]. I see the gates bang, and if I can stay present in the moment, I can see better.

What horse did you ride this year?

I’m riding Autumn. Her registered name is Smart Autumn, and she’s a High Brow Cat granddaughter. She’s 12, and I got her 4 years ago.

It’s been a learning process for both of us. She was a heel horse, and as long as I show up, she shows up. Last year I didn’t ride her well over the Fourth [of July], because I was having vision issues, and she’ll just do minimal effort. It’s been a process of learning to ride and score on her.

How do your concussions affect your everyday life?

The affect it a lot. Managing my stress levels is huge. My brain fog will come and go depending on stress, and I still have some word-finding issues that I’m sure nobody really notices. I really try to do my excersizes every day—I can tell the difference if I don’t—I’ll try to ground and get my feet in the grass, and have some sunshine every day.

My story is different, but it’s not unique. There are people who may not have had a concussion, but they are coming back from an injury. That’s why I’m really passionate about the Brain + Body Method, and I’ve started a group called All Around Wellness and Performance. It’s four ladies, and we dive into what we eat, bloodwork and we acknowledge, ‘This is what Western medicine say is normal, but it’s not optimal.‘ So how do we get to optimal?

If there were a few things you could tell someone to maximize their health, what would they be?

I would tell them to prioritize awareness and checking in with your body. Women are often told, as athletes, to push through the pain. Check in with your body and say, ‘How do I feel today?’ Just sit with yourself for 10 minutes. Because it’s the horse that’s lame all the sudden. It wasn’t an overnight deal, it’s been a cumulative thing.

Then, prioritize, sleep, food and movement. Sleep is so important, but putting your phone away before bed. Build in wind-down time. Then nutrition. The closer to an actual apple you eat, the better. We’re not talking about a diet, we want sustainable changes. Don’t eat fake crap. Then movement. Walking is your best friend. That does so much to calm your nervous system.