OMG Clayton Fredericks Burghley XC

I know when I have fallen off i have gone straight to my horse, however, I cannot compare any fall i've ever had with a fall over the Cottesmore leap
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And that is it in a nutshell.

I've been lucky in that I've only ever had one seriously bad fall, whilst out hunting. Concussed, with a broken nose and seriously shaken I had to leave others to deal with my horse - who at the time was stuck on a fence, with no guarantee that she would be removed from it alive.

Thankfully she was fine, and the huntsman was not needed.

But others were in a far better position to deal with her than I at that time, and I was eternally grateful to them for their help, expertise and professionalism.
 
I only got round to watching it today and he did look to see where the horse was and he did pat it when the steward brought it over. He had just fallen off over a beyond huge jump and he hadnt attached air jacket to saddle so must of been in lots of pain!? :s
 
mahonenx said:
He can't have been in that much pain as he managed to ride the poor horse back!
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Oh yes of course, because nobody has ever managed to get on a horse and walk it home when they've been injured or in pain :rolleyes:

Oh dear, we really do seem to be scraping the bottom of the barrel here in an attempt to 'prove' that someone doesn't care about their horse.
 
There was another fall at that fence exactly the same and the lady rider jumped up and was shouting "where is he?" The distress in her voice where so was obviously so worried for him brought me to tears
 
Walterstown Don unhurt after Burghley fall
Published September 4, 2012 by Team Fredericks
http://www.teamfredericks.com/walterstown-don-unhurt-after-burghley-fall/


Walterstown Don (Walter) has suffered no injuries despite a horrific fall on the Burghley cross-country course.

The accident, which shocked many viewers on the Burghley TV website, happened at the Cottesmore Leap fence and left Clayton visibly winded and in pain. Walter was thoroughly checked by vets and despite the severity of the fall has experienced no serious ill-effects.

Some viewers have criticised Clayton’s reaction to the fall, suggesting he should have checked to make sure Walter was OK. He told us:

“I was disappointed by some of the criticisms, particularly from those who may have seen some of the incident on YouTube. The TV coverage did not tell the whole story. I was in considerable shock and pain, all the more so because of the previous fall I had this season, although I was able to walk afterwards.

“The welfare of my horses is always my major concern and I care greatly for them, as anyone who knows Team Fredericks will confirm".

“I would like to reassure everybody that Walter is absolutely fine, was immediately checked by vets and is now in perfect form. Thank you all for your concern” Clayton added.


Emma Charlton
Team Fredericks
 
Thank you Emma, and a timely reminder of how far reaching forums like this are, and the impact that comments (even completely misjudged ones) can make...

Glad to hear they are both well, and hope to see them out and about competing again soon x
 
But even Sam Penn (that falk still makes me cry when she calls "where is he?") says on her fb that she never reads forums like this because people react without knowing the whole story...
We all react differently in different situations- none of us know how clayton was feeling. Ok, i wouldn't of ridden the horse back but thats his call. I'm just relieved the pony is ok :)
 
Speaking with my steward hat on, if someone has had a bad fall - even at a much lower height - I would rather they stayed sat down & let somebody else catch the horse. Leaping up to snog the horse could make a spinal injury/internal bleeding much worse & I doubt very much that the horse would be at all grateful.
 
hairycob said:
Speaking with my steward hat on, if someone has had a bad fall - even at a much lower height - I would rather they stayed sat down & let somebody else catch the horse. Leaping up to snog the horse could make a spinal injury/internal bleeding much worse & I doubt very much that the horse would be at all grateful.
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Thats very easy to say but in practice your first thought after such a fall is naturally to check the horse. Same as if i was hit by a car my first thought would be are my kids ok. You tend to just react in these situations...
 
nikCscott said:
Thats very easy to say but in practice your first thought after such a fall is naturally to check the horse. Same as if i was hit by a car my first thought would be are my kids ok. You tend to just react in these situations...
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Late to this thread, but with reference to the above, it is not true at all. I recently fell with my horse (we slipped on the flat). To by-standers it was not a serious or heavy fall. However, my reaction was very strange. I sat up, took off my gloves, unzipped my vest, and said, "I had the weirdest dream that I fell off my horse." Apparently I was unconcerned about the horse, and totally unaware I had just fallen.

Someone caught my horse and walked us back to the barn. I was severely concussed and spent the night in the hospital. Of course I have no recollection of any of it, or in fact about 12 hours from that day.
 
Its worth remembering folks that the reactions we can have when falling can be very varied and hence our actions afterwards can sometimes be strange!

I remember donkeys years ago now getting decked in the warm up of a sj comp by a very young (and bucky!) george. I did as I normally do and got straight back on, carried on with what I was doing and went into the ring.....halfway round the course I pulled up. I was confused and did not know what the hell I was doing sat on a horse let alone that I was in a sj comp and where the next fence was. I was promptly made to get off and taken to hospital where I was told I had a severe concussion. I just remember being really pee'd off that I wanted to sleep and no one would let me!

FWIW I dont think anyone can comment on Claytons reaction or so called non reaction. It was a horrific fall and he will have been incredibly shocked by it and I dont understand how anyone can say these top riders dont give a stuff about their horses?!?!

Im sad that the fredricks have more than likely read this thread given their recent press release about the incident.

Lets face it. NONE of us are perfect and split second decisions can be the difference between win or lose (or a clear or fall!). Who the hell is ANYONE to judge his decisions that day? we are ALL only human after all!
 
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