Bad Fall - Landed On Face

sasquatch

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Okay, so I wish I was joking.

B isn't sound in trot, however he's fine in walk and I've been walking him at least every other day for 10-20 minutes. This is recent, has been a week and he is overdue his feet being done (farrier is coming out friday, but has been very busy as I have seen him at work and he has tried his best to fit me in) so I am reluctant to call the vet until his feet are done and I know it isn't just as they're long.

We went for our walk in the arena today, and B was fine until he spooked. He can spook quite violently so he spun and bolted. I'm not sure exactly what happened next. I THINK he bucked and then spun, because that's what it felt like. I can remember seeing my saddle going one way and either had an out of body experience or thought I was superman because I can remember seeing saddle going to the left, and realising I was going right lol. I'm fairly sure I landed on my head/face.

I do not remember getting up, but was up on my feet straight away as B had run off and there was a lesson in the other half of the arena. I had undone my hat at one point, and B had run over to a friend who was being taught in the lesson and she said something about my hat and my response was something like 'oh is it smashed?' when she meant the buckle was unclipped (which I had done). Head was pounding to start with and I felt a bit off and shaken. Cannot remember what was said to me, other than something about lunging, and that my nose felt a bit odd. So I then lunged B, and am now sure he is not sound as he was definitely hopping on his left front on his right rein in trot (or at least I think it was that way round?) and it's his left front that he hasn't seemed right on. He isn't the type to buck either, and whilst he'll drop a shoulder and spin, it's rare he'd do it so violently (usually, I can sit to them, apart from when he teleports from halt to other side of the dressage arena when judge puts car window down) and the last time I had a fall where he seemed to buck and try to get me off he was sore. I'm just hoping he hasn't made anything worse by his antics.

Anyway, gravity did the thing where what goes up must come down. I would have stayed on until the short stop and sudden drop (of shoulder) and I am fairly sure I managed to land on the right side of my face as it is nice and red, warm and swollen. Don't think I've broken anything as it isn't sore to touch.

I feel absolutely fine, but am going to try and take it easy. I'm meant to be in work tomorrow (my boss is also the instructor who was teaching) so if I go in I may say to her I don't want to ride as I did land on my head. It would have been about 6pm it happened, so I am trying to stay awake for a little bit longer tonight but don't seem to have any signs of concussion. It's hard to tell if I'm being any weirder than normal! I have an ice pack for my face too, at least my black eye may match my burgundy dress for a friends birthday next week.

Will keep an eye on B too, there's no obvious heat or swelling in his legs but if he looks much worse tomorrow vet will be called.
 
It might not be a good idea to ride him at all, he probably is lame in walk but its hard to spot as he will have at least 2 other feet on the ground. You get people who say 'my horse is lame at trot but fine at walk and canter '....... it isnt. Its lame at all gaits but its easier to spot at trot.
Sorry you had a fall, but cant see any point/pleasure in riding a lame horse.
 
Sounds like a nasty fall - you sound a bit confused - head injuries should never be taken lightly imo are you sure you are OK?
 
I don't understand...you were riding a lame horse who needs his feet seeing too?

Quite apart from that, you DO have symptoms of concussion and you DO need to be checked out. Now, not tomorrow or next week, but now. Concussion is serious and any time you have a bang to the head that means you cant remember things you need to be seen ASAP. Get yourself to A&E now!
 
Quite apart from that, you DO have symptoms of concussion and you DO need to be checked out. Now, not tomorrow or next week, but now. Concussion is serious and any time you have a bang to the head that means you cant remember things you need to be seen ASAP. Get yourself to A&E now!

agree with this go to hospital and if your horse is lame you shouldn't be riding at all.
 
Sounds like a nasty fall - you sound a bit confused - head injuries should never be taken lightly imo are you sure you are OK?

I thought the same thing reading that post. Like Leo W says - a trip to A&E is a good idea. Have you got anyone who can take you?
 
Having been concussed after a fall you should get yourself to A&E sooner rather than later but don't drive yourself.

As far as riding a lame horse - why? The fact you can see he is lame in trot does not mean he is sound to ride in walk.
 
I dont think the details of the post and the lame horse stuff is what should be focused on. People with concussion are dazed and confused and could easily be posting things that sound feasible but are actually the result of the concussion but in "real life" are nonsense and not recognisable after someone has come round from the concussion.

I really hope you are at A&E OP, if not get yourself there NOW!
 
I dont think the details of the post and the lame horse stuff is what should be focused on. People with concussion are dazed and confused and could easily be posting things that sound feasible but are actually the result of the concussion but in "real life" are nonsense and not recognisable after someone has come round from the concussion.

I really hope you are at A&E OP, if not get yourself there NOW!
^^^
This
If the OP has got concussion then they are probably is not writing everything down correctly and people should not be focusing on that right now as it may not be right.
 
Didn't go to A&E, I live at home with mum and have an uncle with a TBI and a brother who plays rugby so she is well aware of the concussion protocols and was monitoring me earlier tonight and was happy enough that I was fine - B is lame and has just been walking in the arena on the soft sand footing because he is used to going 'out' and doing 'work' 6 days a week and he fizzes up when not feeling like he's doing something - even if it is just walking around. Haven't wanted to lunge him as he can sometimes be a bit mad and didn't want him on a circle and have been walking him round the outside track of the arena. I will be going to A&E if there is anything strange or startling that happens.

He isn't on 3 legs, there isn't any heat in his legs or swelling and no heat in his hooves, his feet just are long and due to be done. The bucking may well be related to his leg however knowing him, he would only put in a buck if he's sore somewhere else so could well be he looks lame on left front but is actually sore elsewhere. He looks sound when trotted in a straight line, just not on a circle. Once his feet are done, if he's still lame and there's nothing wrong with his feet vet will be coming out. He is happy enough to trot round on his own accord in turn out however will see how he is tomorrow and if he's possibly made himself worse.

Not remembering what happened exactly is fairly normal for me, I know that I definitely was straight onto my feet for certain because I saw B running just can't remember exact words people said to me. I know I insisted I wasn't getting back on, and took him up to get the lunge line and another livery said I had a bloody nose which I hadn't realised, and she went to get me a tissue. I don't think I have a single fall where I remember hitting the ground visually, because I usually shut my eyes. I do remember landing in a heap, but don't remember getting up as I was focused on getting B back as I saw him cantering off.
 
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