It was one of those days that nothing
could stop you from venturing out on a hack. It was a perfect
fall day for a ride through the trails.
I was planning on riding alone but two friends decided to wait
until I finished teaching my lesson so the three of us could
enjoy the beautiful day together. I tacked up quickly, while
my friends waited patiently in the arena. My horse Spring whinnied
and carried on, excited to get going.
When I was ready to go. I took one last look in the tack room
for my helmet but I couldn't find it. Having never worn my helmet,
except for jumping, I shrugged my shoulders and took Spring outside.
The three of us wandered up the trail beside the horses' paddocks.
We laughed at the colt that was running and bucking along the
fence line. Spring tossed her head and swished her tail with
excitement. I gave her a pat and continued speaking with my friend
up ahead.
It didn't take long before I felt Spring explode beneath me.
She bucked a few times and I laughed, knowing her moves inside
out. When she began to back up I turned around to tell the girl
behind me, a young rider, to watch out.
That is the last thing I remember.
From what my friends have told me, Spring backed up and reared
at the same time. She lost her balance and flipped over backwards.
Unfortunately for me, I didn't fall off. Instead, she came down
on top of me. Spring scrambled to her feet, trying to avoid my
motionless form.
One of the girls went to call 911 when I started having convulsions
and wasn't waking up. I can remember trying to sit up and saying
I was OK and then seeing blackness again. However, I was fortunate
- I suffered from a concussion, a sprained ankle and a sore body.
This was an accident pure and simple. I trained my horse. I know
her moves inside out, but something provoked her to act differently.
She never rears, but on this day she did. I never fall, but we
both did.
I learned a hard but important lesson. No matter how good a rider
you are or how well you know your horse, accidents will happen.
Whether jumping, doing dressage or merely hacking, your horse
is unpredictable.
A helmet would have saved me from a concussion, a trip to the
hospital and the horror I put my friends and family through.
|Heading OFF Injury|Injury
Prevention|
|No Helmet - 911|"New
Lids"
