Broken collarbone - what can I do with horse?

[quiteniceforacob]

Our first show on Friday led to Frankie tripping over his own feet and falling, and me snapping my clavicle into 3. Complete accident and he had been doing so so well until that point.

I’m out of the saddle for a little while now - currently awaiting surgery - and paying for him to be schooled twice a week. When I’m up for going back up to the yard, what can I do with him? Can’t lunge etc as right arm is out of action.

Is this is a case of talking to him until arm heals? Hoping someone has some magic ideas I haven’t thought of?!

 

[mossycup]

If you are down to 1 arm, do you have a friend or fellow livery who would be happy to hack him twice a week? Or if he is good on the ground, just take him for an inhand walk and spend time grooming?

 

[quiteniceforacob]

Yes lots of available options for others to ride him. I guess for me it’s just grooming isn’t it, and maybe playing with him freeschooling! Just need this recovery to speed up

 

[millikins]

No useful suggestions I'm afraid but get well soon. My daughter did hers last year in very similar circumstances, pony put her foot in a hole in the school and catapulted rider out the side, we sent pony to stud to give me less to do for a few weeks but doesn't help with your gelding

 

[quiteniceforacob]

Ha no, I don’t think he’d be keen!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

If you need extra help with the healing after the op, contact Brian Simpson in Ipswich, he is probably the best fixer there is, v v good and is very well thought of (and successful) particularly with collarbones and arms, which are the main racers injuries.
Am v happy to recco.

Edit, link to his website https://www.physioclinic.net/

 

[irishdraft]

If your having it plated it will only be a few weeks . I was back doing chores and riding by about 3 weeks although it was my left collar, hardest part was tacking up x

 

[quiteniceforacob]

If your having it plated it will only be a few weeks . I was back doing chores and riding by about 3 weeks although it was my left collar, hardest part was tacking up x

this is what I want to hear! Thank you!

 

[quiteniceforacob]

If you need extra help with the healing after the op, contact Brian Simpson in Ipswich, he is probably the best fixer there is, v v good and is very well thought of (and successful) particularly with collarbones and arms, which are the main racers injuries.
Am v happy to recco.

Edit, link to his website https://www.physioclinic.net/

thank you!

 

[ZondaR]

I broke mine in 2010 and it took the full 12 weeks before I was in any state to ride. Although I was able to do all normal things, I found handling my horse and riding difficult because any sudden pulls were very painful. Also, brushing him and raising my arm to tack up were also very painful. You have the rest of your life, take it easy and allow yourself to heal properly.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

I could probably also cope with 12 weeks, it was when the (non horsey) doctor said 6 months that I couldn’t cope!

 

[Leandy]

I think your job is to get it healed as soon as possible. It isn't worth risking that by playing with your horse too early, tempting as it may be. Really, if you injure it again and delay healing you will be very cross with yourself! Either get the horse schooled for you so it is better than when you left it, or give it a nice holiday. It will take you a few weeks to get you both fit enough once you are riding again anyway so I'd let the horse benefit in some way during the period you can't ride.

 

[Abi90]

I broke mine in 2010 and it took the full 12 weeks before I was in any state to ride. Although I was able to do all normal things, I found handling my horse and riding difficult because any sudden pulls were very painful. Also, brushing him and raising my arm to tack up were also very painful. You have the rest of your life, take it easy and allow yourself to heal properly.

I agree with this. I still have problems 4 years on (although fully functional) it took 12 weeks for the fracture to heal and then a further 12 weeks of physio before I could get on a horse and it was still painful

 

[quiteniceforacob]

You’re all right I know! Just such a disappointment!

 

[Lady Jane]

Do what you are told!!!! I had 2 fractures in mine (shame the hospital didn't mention that bit), did what I could when I could and it took 2 years before I was completely ok. And 3 operations and a nicked artery. After each plate it took about 3 months before I could do horse stuff, and then built it up slowly. My consultants daughters had horses and gave me good advice - half fill the water bucket, wheel barrow etc. Less good - don't fall off for a while! Good luck, keep us posted

 

[katastrophykat]

If your having it plated it will only be a few weeks . I was back doing chores and riding by about 3 weeks although it was my left collar, hardest part was tacking up x

Not for me! It was admittedly a jigsaw in about 14 bits, but four ops and three years later it was about sorted...

The initial op, I was off for a good four months and sent my boy away to ensure that he was ticking over and ready to go when I was, but my problems happened when they removed the plate- it fractured again twice while I slept in bed (sat up!!) and they put in a small plate, then it went again and that had to come out and be replaced with a bigger one. That’s when they nicked my vein and I’m now on thinners for life- the clots were from elbow to neck and up into my chest three days after the op, after a year on thinners I had a small op and it all reclotted, so lifelong thinners for me ?‍ They looked at removing a load of scar tissue last year but it’s too much of a mess to guarantee a good outcome so it stays as it is.

 

[irishdraft]

Well it looks like I got off very lightly with my collarbone, it only had one break and it was the fact my muscles in that area had gone into spasm pulling the bones apart that I had to have it plated. I had no pain with it at all so presumably that was why I could get going quite quickly. Considering my horse fell whilst jumping thru a pretty big grid I was very lucky only to sustain this injury .

 

[quiteniceforacob]

It’s so horrifying isn’t it. I got him in October as a 30th birthday present, having wanted a pony since I was about 5. Since then I’ve self isolated twice, had Covid, had to move yards and now this. Just felt like we were really making progress together and it’s such a setback, I want to cry.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Our first show on Friday led to Frankie tripping over his own feet and falling, and me snapping my clavicle into 3. Complete accident and he had been doing so so well until that point.

I’m out of the saddle for a little while now - currently awaiting surgery - and paying for him to be schooled twice a week. When I’m up for going back up to the yard, what can I do with him? Can’t lunge etc as right arm is out of action.

Is this is a case of talking to him until arm heals? Hoping someone has some magic ideas I haven’t thought of?!

my clavicle broke in the 80's but the most recent is the humerus. I was out of action 9 months. So my horse just had time off with or trainer ride once or twice a week to keep her ticking over.

 

[Hallo2012]

i assume its being plated?

is he safe?not strong?

i was back on easy horses 2 weeks and 5 days after plating and difficult ones a week later, my best advice is to NOT wait for NHS physio and go to a private one who does rugby players and jump jockeys.................12 weeks later when i finally went for my NHS appointment i had 100% range of motion etc and they were amazed i was even out the sling.

i also bust my clavicle and shoulder in to 3 bits.

i think i was lunging and mucking out after a week, carefully and sort of 1.5 handed but it wont slow you up that much.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

He’s safe and gentle, a bit strong on the ground but not when ridden.

will definitely be going to a private physio - do you have any recommendations in London area?

 

[quiteniceforacob]

And yes, snapped into 3 with a plate and six screws

 

[Hallo2012]

He’s safe and gentle, a bit strong on the ground but not when ridden.

will definitely be going to a private physio - do you have any recommendations in London area?

sadly not i was midlands when i did it but maybe ask local rugby clubs? it will be well worth the £££ as NHS estimated approx 65% range of motion and i reckon i have very nearly full range just a tiny catch at the very end and as above i was at this point after 12 weeks rather than the 6-9 months estimated.

make sure you get the plate reassed after 6 months, i had to have mine out as not much flesh covering and they were worried if i fell and landed on it i would split it and need a skin graft. the op to remove was dead easy, i was fencing the same day lol.

 

[quiteniceforacob]

Oh wow!! We have bupa (husband signed up in feb) so definitely will go down the private route!