Riding again after a nasty accident = your experiences please

budley95 said:
I haven't read replies but you can ride again. it's very much mind over matter. This is my scar 6 years on
[ Gee whizz!! THere's no way I could have ridden 4 weeks after the accident! You must be amazing! I didn't have any morphine to cope with my pain and they thought I was amazing! Seriously though, I wasn't allowed to put weight on my leg for 6 weeks as I had lost a piece of bone from the middle of my femur as well - but at 4 weeks after the accident my knee was still twice its normal size and very painful - I couldn't bend it. I am amazed at your tenacity and bravery!! I never had a cast, only the nail, by the way. I couldn't get into our shower (which is over the bath) for nearly 4 weeks! - apparently I'm doing really well for the stage I'm at now so you must be super human! :)
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also, I wouldn't have been able to get jodhpurs over the knee as it was so big, and I had quite bad bruising on my ankle from where they had me in traction during the operation...how old are you Budley? I'm close on half a century.
 
I was 16 years old going through a growth spurt which helped. I was also stupidly fashion conscious and forced skinny jeans over my full leg cast. Being a gymnast that enjoyed trampolining and a stupidly keen runner (at least 6 miles a day, 3 to the yard and 3 back) helped. Much easier to bath than shower. Use a stall in the bath on an anti slip mat. Sit on the side with your arms at the back of the bath, pull yourself back and lower your bum down onto the stool so you're in a v shape, then shuffle your bum so you have your legs at the end of the bath up in the air and you can lay back. It's shallow but a lot easier than balancing in a shower :-) you can do it. Just keep pushing. Have yourself a goal and go for it. If you can get yourself an exercise bike or treadmill use it. Do it very gently. Time how long you can do it and then push yourself 10 seconds longer each day. You can do it. You just have to push it. Ice on your knee will help with swelling a lot! But that's just my personal experience. You can do it. Just have a goal. Mine was The open. It was my goal before my injury though and I'm an incredibly stubborn person that sets goals and refuses to give up. It's a trait of mine that is a big downfall a lot of the time!
 
I'm certainly not giving up! Main thing is that as I wasn't allowed to put weight on the leg for six weeks I got muscle wastage - there's a difference between discomfort and real pain, so I am listening to my body. Also, am being very careful not to try to limp along with one/no crutches as this will be bad for my back etc. I am walking about a mile or so every day which is a great help, but if I do too much bending and stretching, I end up pulling stuff then having to slow down again the next day. It's certainly advisable after such a break as mine not to ride and risk falling off for quite a while - it would be dreadful to have to have it all done again!! Our shower is over the bath and has a little corner seat so can do it all fine now - managed on my own yesterday.
 
plus, my femur cut through the quadriceps muscle so it was sliced through and now has a jaunty dent - they repaired it as best they could but it's taking time to build up strength in it
 
I leapt back on far too soon and proceed to go down hill into a nervous rider after 40 years of being fearless. After six months I sold the horse that I had come off and waited to see if the urge to ride returned. When it did I rode school masters for a while until I felt I wanted to own a horse again. I then bought a school master (or rather mistress) who I bonded with immediately and a year after the accident I was a happy confident rider again. I injured both legs in the accident (very serious fractures) and couldn't walk properly for two years.
 
I guess I was very lucky that my bad fall wasn't broken bones - instead I spent several days in hospital getting brain scans. My horse spooked, bolted, the skidded to a halt, bucked and twisted, sending me head first at high speed into a drystone dyke. I remember flying through the air and thinking, damnit he got me, then woke up midway through neck and spine X-rays. Apparently I had been mostly unconscious but had moments where I was awake and swearing and shouting at the paramedics (who got the ambulance stuck in the field and had to cut off my jacket and bp, and then tried to inject me with pain relief and I flipped). I then passed out again in the ambulance and was unconscious until the X-ray theatre.

I took about a month to recover, as thankfully I didn't break my neck or have brain damage, but I had a very bad concussion that meant I couldn't even sit up for long periods without throwing up from nausea, continually lost track of sentences half way through, got irrationally angry over little things, and found myself unable to remember what people were saying to keep track of conversations. I have made a full recovery but was lucky!! My riding hat, which undoubtedly saved my life, had a huge crack right down the middle - a Charles and Owen skull for reference. Some impact!

I was desperate to get back on again, but my parents never let me get back on my horse afterwards. I was due to go away to uni, and he was sent off to be a companion at the place I originally bought him from. He had always been a horse whose fear reaction was bolting, and whilst when fit he was no problem, I had been bringing him back into work after a stifle injury, hence I think the reaction. I couldn't in good faith have let him go as a riding horse after that.

The first horse I got on was a 4 year old Clydesdale - and I was so pleased to be back on a horse!! However I noticed that whenever a horse spooked, I would panic and grab at the reins. Took six months and a very special horse that came to our yard for reschooling to help me - he was VERY spooky, but would just jump in the air or jump sideways, never do anything horrible, and didn't react when I panicked. A month of riding him everyday cured me.

I then spent two years goong back to riding breakers and young stock - they were unpredictable, which made me be brave, but in a very predictable way as they hasn't learnt how to be really horrible yet. I would say that I'm not as brave as I was - if a horse tries to get me off, I dot want to ride it anymore, simple as. My current horse, four years after my accident, is the first one I've gritted my teeth over and been determined to ride through bad behaviour... So a long process for me but getting there!
 
pansy and khal - what terrible stories! It's so good to hear others have been through really nasty accidents and survived well enough to ride again. The last two nights I have dreamt I was riding my horse.
 
mynutmeg said:
Non-horsey people just don't understand why we want to get back on after accidents do they? :p It seems a long time at the moment but once you're through it doesn't feel so long and you do get through it
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No they don't .. I had a bad fall a week ago - horse spooked and lost his footing when he spun around and fell on me. I know that I was really fortunate not to break anything and got away with bruising ( lots of bruising!) and grazes. I do wear a body protector which probably saved my ribs and side.
My family and friends are horrified that I've kept on riding and this recent fall has convinced than that I've lost my senses. I don't know yet if it's affected my confidence. I've got a lesson tomorrow and should be ok as long as I have my favourite RS horse who doesn't need much pushing.
One week on and my main problem is my right shoulder which has limited and painful mobility still. Trip to Chiro booked as well.
 
Ive had two nasty falls in the last 6 months - first one my mare bronked when she was taken by surprise by scramblers and i ended up with a broken right leg (not a bad break). Fast forward post cast and i was ok back on my mare but she then bronked and bolted with me, i didnt fancy a repeat so came off on soft ground, following which she went staright through thick hedge (over a nasty 4/5 foot drop). Paramedics and ambulance as i couldnt stand (was my BP through the floor) and i ended up with a lovely hematoma on my right leg that took 6 weeks to reduce. The physical issues were ok but ive had problems getting over the fact she took a hedge out - oit could have been a car, wall . . . We have now worked through her bronking (mainly due to saddle and a lameness issue) and she's back to normal and all good with her - from my perspective i now just need to get over the fear of losing control. Its not the falling so much as am ok in the school on her, its losing her (which is how i felt when she bolted) and the what ifs connected to this. Body protector bought and now going to take it slowly forcing myself out on her in small bite size chunks.
 
On the day I broke my leg, my friend came off her horse as well (in fact, I think as my horse shot forward, hers shot past). She was wearing a body protector, but broke two ribs. I don't know what type it was, but I know she bought it from a stall at a show and I wonder if she'd had it fitted properly. I've only ever worn a body protector at "fun rides" or hunting and the one I have is nearly 20 years old. I think I'm going to buy a new one before I ride again - it doesn't bear thinking about - stuff like being lanced with a sharp branch etc..... I wish there was some sort of leg protection I could get as well. Might look into leather motorbike chaps.
 
Waffles said:
On the day I broke my leg, my friend came off her horse as well (in fact, I think as my horse shot forward, hers shot past). She was wearing a body protector, but broke two ribs. I don't know what type it was, but I know she bought it from a stall at a show and I wonder if she'd had it fitted properly. I've only ever worn a body protector at "fun rides" or hunting and the one I have is nearly 20 years old. I think I'm going to buy a new one before I ride again - it doesn't bear thinking about - stuff like being lanced with a sharp branch etc..... I wish there was some sort of leg protection I could get as well. Might look into leather motorbike chaps.
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Ive just bought an airowear BP - A&E doc advised me that it was the one thing he wished all horseriders wore. Agree on the legs thing though - i had a lump the size of a turkey breast on my hip for weeks (only went down when i threatended to go to the docs to have it drained) but also arems - my elbows are scarred after hitting gravel at speed!
 
Ceriann said:
Ive just bought an airowear BP - A&E doc advised me that it was the one thing he wished all horseriders wore. Agree on the legs thing though - i had a lump the size of a turkey breast on my hip for weeks (only went down when i threatended to go to the docs to have it drained) but also arems - my elbows are scarred after hitting gravel at speed!
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Thanks - Ill look into that. I was wearing pretty thick suede chaps despite it being boiling but the rock I hit snapped my leg straight in half. I always pull my arms in , relax and roll and my forearms were cut to shreads from thorns etc. I did bruise a finger a bit and rip of a bit of skin on another, but hardly noticed it in the circumstances.
 
I'm normally a lurker on this forum but I've found this thread really interesting as I also had a nasty accident a couple of weeks ago when out on a hack. I've only had the horse since mid August so we were getting to know each other. Went out with our two other horses with my mom and a friend riding and me on my new boy.

A dog came running out of the bushes from nowhere and made my moms horse skip a bit which sent my boy forward and he bucked and veered to the side. Cue me being left mid air with nowhere to go but down. I actually had time to adjust how I was going to land (horse is 17hh) and managed to roll rather than land on my hands and knees. So I landed on my left side, hit my head pretty hard and fractured a transverse process in my lower back. Although I can walk and move about it's a struggle.

Absolutely gutted, all I want to do is ride! I thought my confidence would be gone but I'm itching to get back in the saddle. Worst thing about it all is watching other people ride my horse and trying to not get jealous! It's just so frustrating.

Also I was wearing a borrowed airowear body protector and the doctors said it saved a lot of potential injuries with my ribs and internally. I'll never go out on a hack without wearing one now. I was so lucky and I won't forget that.
 
Waffles said:
On the day I broke my leg, my friend came off her horse as well (in fact, I think as my horse shot forward, hers shot past). She was wearing a body protector, but broke two ribs. I don't know what type it was, but I know she bought it from a stall at a show and I wonder if she'd had it fitted properly. I've only ever worn a body protector at "fun rides" or hunting and the one I have is nearly 20 years old. I think I'm going to buy a new one before I ride again - it doesn't bear thinking about - stuff like being lanced with a sharp branch etc..... I wish there was some sort of leg protection I could get as well. Might look into leather motorbike chaps.
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I've had two falls wearing mine and was amazed that although I've landed on my side each time that I could barely feel any impact. When I got home after my fall I had a look at my half chaps and the right one was really badly scuffed from the Tarmac and loose gravel. If I'd not been wearing it that would have been the skin off my ankle so I'm having similar thoughts to you. Or bubble wrap :-D
 
TrasaM said:
I've had two falls wearing mine and was amazed that although I've landed on my side each time that I could barely feel any impact. When I got home after my fall I had a look at my half chaps and the right one was really badly scuffed from the Tarmac and loose gravel. If I'd not been wearing it that would have been the skin off my ankle so I'm having similar thoughts to you. Or bubble wrap :-D
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Do you think we could petition some body protector makers to come up with something? Hopefully by about January when I will be able to ride again hopefully!
 
Waffles said:
Do you think we could petition some body protector makers to come up with something? Hopefully by about January when I will be able to ride again hopefully!
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The material technology does exist. Think we might end up looking like American football players though :O :) jods with reinforced patches to outside thigh area and tops with reinforced elbows would be a start though. I don't have shoulder protectors on my BP ( Aerowear outline) although they do make ones.
 
I broke both tib and fib 2" above my ankle, it was a compound fracture so i had to have pins, plates, muscle transplants, vein transplants and skin grafts to keep my leg. The first op took 8 hrs i had a further 4 ops while i was in hospital for 3 weeks. They said i wouldnt be able to walk for 5 months. I did this in a sj competition. I never thought i would have a problem with my nerves but i found i could hack, school, gallop but put a jump infront of me and i would freak out. 4 yrs on i find i can school, hack, gallop jump sj up to 2'3 with no problems but as for sj 2'6 and over i have good days where i can fly over them and bad days where its "can't do, can't do it" and i panic. As for xc i'm the same good and bad days. So i deal with it now as, if i want to jump the jump then i will, if i dont, then i won't. I still compete but i always go at the pace of my nerves. I never make myself do it. I find i'm better on my own too, if i have anyone there with me i think i wuss out easier, where as when i'm alone i have to do it. I keep reminding myself i have to live in the here and now, and not think of the what if's.
 
TrasaM said:
The material technology does exist. Think we might end up looking like American football players though :O :) jods with reinforced patches to outside thigh area and tops with reinforced elbows would be a start though. I don't have shoulder protectors on my BP ( Aerowear outline) although they do make ones.
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I wouldn't care what I looked like - I "only" really do hacking.
 
Waffles said:
Thanks - Ill look into that. I was wearing pretty thick suede chaps despite it being boiling but the rock I hit snapped my leg straight in half. I always pull my arms in , relax and roll and my forearms were cut to shreads from thorns etc. I did bruise a finger a bit and rip of a bit of skin on another, but hardly noticed it in the circumstances.
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I definitely havent mastered the relax and roll - more of a flat and splat effect for me. Nerves wise im fine in the school now but hacking (which i love) makes me a little jumpy (not quaking like a leaf or anything but i have to focus on relaxing). I will always wear my BP hacking - ive promised my OH and to be honest mine is so well fitted it would be mad for me to take the risk - and im hoping it will make me braver. Im lucky in some respects that my 5 year old mare is quite self assured, though with that comes a little self will. WE've got some work to do and im working on developing a seat like glue!
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your injuries, some horrific ones on here, especially OP's! Kudos to the lot of you...

I had a bad fall onto concrete in my early 30's hacking a 4 year old TB in company who spooked at a pheasant in the hedge then bronced, landed on my back and although managed eventually to walk to the car and drive myself to A and E the rest was a bit of a blur. Had 3 days in hospital having fractured a couple of transverse processes and a slipped vertebra then 3 months off before back to work. I mentally couldn't ride for a couple of years, then my husband died and suddenly it seemed to be the only way to keep me sane. Started off at a local riding school then bought my own and the rest is history, I even team chased a few times afterwards.
I have since been very fussy about what I ride, though, have a dread of being bucked off although the first time I fell off afterwards, funnily enough team chasing, made me realise that it wasn't the end of the world!

Good luck with your rehab OP, I hope it goes well for you.
 
No advice unfortunately, but I am in the same boat with a fractured skull/head&brain op. So scared that in a years time I'm going to lose all my confidence when I get back on. :(
 
I broke my tibia and fibula (not in a riding accident) and had to have a plate and pins put in. I was nervous about riding again, so I had a course of lessons on a mechanical horse before I rode my saint of a Clydesdale mare. Unfortunately she had to be pts less than a year later. Three years after that I fell off a 16.3 ID, after a bronking session on the road. That horse was also pts a few months later, sadly, so I never did get back on her. I had physio for a trapped nerve in my neck and other problems. Then I bought a very sensible Draft mare, who has restored my hacking confidence but a car accident when a numpy rear-ended me has resulted in more physio but the mare just makes allowances for my lop-sidedness when necessary.
 
It's a wonder we are all still sane after our accidents! I'm finding this really therapeutic - knowing that others have had equally bad/worse accidents and survived and ridden again. My last horse used to spook and bronk all the time and I only fell off him twice in 17 years (both times I had my BP on and didn't hurt myself apart from getting a stiff neck the one time). The worst thing about the current horse is that when he moves suddenly forward it's difficult to feel his movement as he is so kind of light - hes a sec D but it's like riding a TB feelwise - he's like a deer!

Also, it's good reading this stuff and making me face things as it were.... slightly traumatic reading some of these posts, but good for me somehow!
 
I fell onto tarmac once - apart from bruising I was fine, and I got straight back on. Felt OK about it all.

But subconsciously it must have had an effect because I didn't ride again for 18mo, just kept finding excuses. I felt I'd had a lucky break not to be worse, and I shouldn't push my luck.

In the end...I just did it, the time felt right! Maybe just give yourself time if you don't fell up to it once healed? You don't *have* to ride at all!
 
In 2008 I had a very bad fall from a young cob I was breaking in. He got spooked by some cows and reared up and came over backwards in the middle of the road. I hit the road hard and herd a crack. I knew something was very wrong so didn't move. An ambilance was called and I was taken to hospital. The paramedics couldn't give me any pain reliefe as the gas and air was broken. It didn't matter though as I wasn't in much pain. Once at the hospital I was parked in a hallway and a nurse kept coming over to ask my pain score. It still didn't hurt much it was more like the worst ache you could imagen. I was left for a while and the nurses kept looking at me like I was a milingerer. Eventualy I was taken in to xray. The man took one xray and ran out the room. :eek3: From where I was I could see the xray and it wasn't good. My hip was broken in three places. :frown3: The doctor from A&E came into the room and asked me if anywhere els even veigly hurt. I said my wrist was abit sore but I could wave it round lots. The doctor pinned my arm to the bed, told me to stop moving it and asked the xray man to do my wrist to. Turns out it was broken as well.
I had to have surgory to have my hip pinned and plated (they wanted to just replace it as they didn't think it would heal but I begged them not to, I was only 25) my wrist was put into plaster. I spent 3 1/2 weeks in hospital and was told never to riode again. Basicly there is so much mettle in my hip the bone won't break next time, it will just shatter.
I was told not to walk without crutches for 6 months but I was back on a horse in 4 :redface3: I rode my lovely safe mare first, I trusted her with my life in every way. Within days of that I was back at work riding big hunters and I was hunting 2 months later.
I'm suffering now though for not giving my hip enough time to heal. But at the time I had no other option :frown3:

Take your time when you start riding again. Even if you just sit at a hault the first time it doesn't matter. there is no rush. I hope your recovery goes well. Glad to hear you are walking now make shore you give your body time to heal though. :)
 
THanks - I certainly will take my time and not even try to ride till x rays confirm it's all healed properly. I know I don't *have* to ride, but I'm not forking out a fortune to keep a pet who I have to muck out :) I've had stacks of falls in my life and always got straight back on - though, with this particular fall, it was impossible! I've got all the moment back in my hip and knee, so once the bone has healed, it will be ok, I'm sure. I think when I first ride again, I may even get someone to lead me! The sad thing is that this happened out hacking and hacking, especially mega long rides, is what I've always like doing best - long gallops, stopping at a pub, having a good gossip and laugh etc. and that riding round in the manege is always something that has bored me stiff. Having said that though - a friend of mine on the yard is dead nervous and only likes riding in the manege (if at all) - her very quiet cob reared up in there and she fell off onto the rubber type surface (those recycled tyre type bits) and broke 2 ribs!
 
Just thought I would add ,my leg which I broke very badly, I think it will be seven years ago now it's three years since I had any surgery and it continues to improve and get stronger .
I am hunting now on a introducing a big strong athletic TB to the job and having great fun , even last year that would have seemed impossible so even when the doctors sign you off you are just at the start of getting back to normal you will improve for a very long time after that.
So even if it's very hard when you start ( I could not even do rising trot ) you can get going again with determination and time.
 
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