Worst injury from horses?

_GG_ said:
Ah, there you are. I've been a tad on the busy side myself lately too so not been around much so good to "see" you :)

As for your incident, it's what I would call one of the more serious of those I have seen in recent years and through all of your updates, all I could think was how amazingly well you were coping with it all.

What have the docs said about the scar feeling like it's going to open? That sounds horrible!
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*Like* Nice to see you too. I dunno how I have time to go to work, haven't stopped this week!

Haven't been to the doctor cos my GP is worse than useless (don't show me the original picture, it'll make me feel sick, he told me!) and the plastic surgery team signed me off and waved me goodbye. I need to moisturise madly but I'm sick of swapping compression stocking from the DVT to elastic crepe things at night. Just want to get back to 'normal' and get on my horse! I think I did cope OK, but the aftermath was a bit emotional: I had a good old cry in the office of the girl dealing with my DVT, no good reason, I was just sick of the whole thing, I think.

Unbelievably, not one student has turned up for actual revision but there's a class full split across three rooms revising for their writing exam which they have to do in silence-bonkers after all the preparation I did for this class!
 
cinnamontoast said:
*Like* Nice to see you too. I dunno how I have time to go to work, haven't stopped this week!

Haven't been to the doctor cos my GP is worse than useless (don't show me the original picture, it'll make me feel sick, he told me!) and the plastic surgery team signed me off and waved me goodbye. I need to moisturise madly but I'm sick of swapping compression stocking from the DVT to elastic crepe things at night. Just want to get back to 'normal' and get on my horse! I think I did cope OK, but the aftermath was a bit emotional: I had a good old cry in the office of the girl dealing with my DVT, no good reason, I was just sick of the whole thing, I think.

Unbelievably, not one student has turned up for actual revision but there's a class full split across three rooms revising for their writing exam which they have to do in silence-bonkers after all the preparation I did for this class!
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Ahhhh, that stinks! At least it should be peaceful there for you. Define CT's recovery?......FRUSTRATING by the sounds of it. You will ride again soon enough. Less moisture in the air now so you will probably need to moisturise more. xx
 
Peaceful but they're all deciding to start the actual assessment at different times and I'm expecting another class to pitch up at 11!

I should moisturise, I know, I just keep burying my head in the sand and hoping I can ignore it!
 
Mike007 said:
I cant quite believe this post. I guess those who have had seriously life changing falls dont particularly wish to participate.
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No offence was meant, obviously people who don't wish to share are under no obligation to reply to this thread.
I would say a lot of the replies show seriously life changing falls and injuries which people are totally willing to share, so your post was fairly unnecessary.
 
Well over the years I have had a number of injuries from horse riding. Mostly the odd bump or bruise but most serious was from a horse genuinely bolting in panic when I was 14 . the horse slammed into a sheep gate and flipped over the top. I suffered three broken ribs and a complete dislocation and rotation of my knee. Blooming painful and still gives me problems but I was back in saddle before my physiotherapist even said it was ok (the joy of being a teenager who knows better than adults!). My worst ever injury was totally not horse related and was breaking my back in two places after falling down stairs. There was a worry for a while I might not walk again but other than being in constant pain I have recovered pretty well and am riding again much to the horror of my surgeon!
 
I think Henmother also needs to see this!

Can I just say, to those who have either been seriously injured, or had a real crisis of confidence and got back in the saddle, well done!
 
In the last 50 years I've had the following:
Fractured skull - Bent down behind a known kicker - totally my fault
Broken ankle - fell off doing bareback cavelleti and horse then stood on it
Fractured skull and cracked shoulder - did the 'inelegant flying dismount' Short version of long story - totally my own fault again

Numerous bruises, muscle pulls, stomped on toes

Funniest - according to my daughter that is horse related - whilst trying to knock the partition upright out of the locking pin on the roof on the trailer I dropped a 6lb claw hammer onto my face - sliced open my upper lip and muscle, 10 external stitches, 15 internal stitches, smashed a tooth out at the gum line. Best diet ever, couldn't eat for a month, everything had to come via a straw. It took three months before the dentist would touch my tooth as had to make sure the lip was healed first before they could pull on it to get at the remnants of the tooth. I was really lucky that there was a maxiofacial surgeon just finishing an operation who was prepared to stitch my face. According to the doctor at A&E if he had stitched it my lip would have looked like a cobbled sock :)
 
Oh and I forgot to mention the non riding but on the yard injuries of forgetting to close top door properly only to have it swing back and hit me in face, cue broken nose. Accidentally hitting a stone with pitch fork to have it bounce off and go through side of my foot as I was stupidly wearing daps not boots. Wrestling the metal feed bin lid closed and having it slam on my hand, breaking several small bones and requiring pins and wire to fix ( I like to think of it as my terminator hand) oh and countless tripping over reins when carrying far too much tack in one go, bumping head on stable door or scalding myself trying to eat a sandwich, drink tea and clean tack all at once! I should just wrap my self in padding before I leave the house!
 
nix123 said:
Broken Ulna (forearm bone) have got it plated n pinned 4" scar from my wrist upwards.
Broken right foot.
Snapped tendon on middle finger so now have a crooked witch finger.
Compound fracture to both bones in leg 2" above ankle (Bones suck out n bleeding) had pins, plates, muscle transplant, vein transplant and skin graft to keep leg.
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Forgot to add:
metal cage in my neck on 4, 5 and 6 vertebrea (they went through the front so had 37 staples across front of my neck, looked like frakenstien)
torn ligaments in left knee
broken toes and fingers (i dont count them anymore)

As to life changing... yes. They have had a change to my life. I get stared at when i'm in a swimming costume, or if i wear a skirt. People also notice the scar on the inside of my arm ( have even been asked if i tried to commit suicide once!!) The front of my neck people notice too. But i think the biggest change is inside my head with my confidence.
 
I'm probably the most accident prone person going...in 20 years of riding and having horses the worst has to be a fractured neck and bruising on my brain when I was bolted with, horse spun and I hit the top rail of the arena fence! I broke my ankle and damaged the tendons in the ankle when I was about 15, the horse I was hacking with turned round and double barralled me and hit my ankle square on. Fractured my collarbone falling off my pony at the end of a lesson when I was about 9, was standing still talking to my instructor when pony did an all over body shake and I slipped off! Broken ribs last summer landing on the foot of a showjump...by far the most painful of the lot! My ankle is the only thing that gives me trouble now though..I ride everything in my own sprenger stirrups now as my ankle locks if not, I also struggle to sit cross legged or with my legs under me on the sofa for example as the ankle locks! Very minor irritation though compared to injuries a lot of people have faced.
 
Along with all the usual breaks, sprains, missing bits of skin, rope burns etc.....
I suppose death was my worse!!!
Rotational fall dozen or so broken bones mouth to mouth CPR the works.
And I just keep coming back!!!
Guess it must be all the bumps to my head lol
 
Double_choc_lab said:
Hooray able to log in again since upgrade. Sat here in a body brace having compressed and fractured L² vertebrae 2 weeks ago. Have to keep it on for eight weeks. This is the worse in 51 years of riding
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How you doing? I did that one three years ago (landing on my feet when I came off over the third part of a grid). No riding for six months. I hope you heal well m'duck.
 
Came off when the horse spooked at birds. Walked two miles to find her. Got a lift from local rider in his Porche and all I could think was don't bleed on the cream leather interior! He had the horse at his yard. Left me to walk the horse the mile plus to our yard.

Horse slipped on the road - cracked elbow. I didn't know. Got back on, finished hack, drove the lorry, didn't get it seen to until the day I turned it the wrong way and screamed.

Horse went left, I didn't - bleed on the brain (thank wotsit I was wearing a hat). Thankfully had D1 and Friend with me (Friend is a neurology nurse!).

Grid work - I was ill and shouldn't have been riding never mind jumping. Came off on third part of the grid and broke my back (compression at L2). Thankful I was wearing my BP as I went flying across the school surface on my back. Didn't know it was broken for two days, just couldn't breath properly or sit down.

My horse was being a witch - I shot backwards as her teeth and hind hoof was coming for me. Tripped over a pile of rubber mats, turned, twisted my arm under me, had a strong metal watch strap on, Collis fracture of the wrist. Had it plated the next day. Had the plate out a year later as a screw was interfering with a ligament. Still have a damaged nerve where the outside of my thumb alternates between feeling burnt and like its been stung by nettles.

Two inch step - tripped down it when I had armfuls of stuff moving D1 into Uni. Broke the end of my fibula. It's caused more hassle than all the rest. My foot doesn't work properly and needs investigation.
 
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A few bumps, bruises and concussions over the years but the worst has to be deciding to ‘dismount’ my pony walking in from the field when I was about 14. The poor wee guy sniffed the electric fence, got a horrible shock in his nose and understandably exploded! I decided I was safer off than on. This was back in the day when you never walked anywhere with your pony – you were always on bare back! I learnt my lesson with a broken ankle which is now held together with pins. Never jump off – just sit up, leg on and try to stay on-board!
 
Life changing?

Yes, in a way.

I too get asked if I've tried to slit my wrist and what a hash job I made of it.

My thumb alternates between burning and feeling nettle stung. If I catch it I get an electric shock.

My back, despite my lies to the contrary, nearly always feels like it has a lump of wood in it, about two inches square by six inches long. It hurts/annoys all the time. Worse in the cold.

My right leg doesn't work properly (courtesy of the L2 compression fracture). When I get tired I drag the toe and trip up. Now my left leg doesn't work I'm bilaterally wonky. Can't walk properly. Can't run. Can't wear heels of more than half an inch.

My left arm sometimes won't turn. I have to wiggle my forearm to free it. Annoying and sometimes painful. Three fingers have started to tingle/pins and needles. I can't yet face more investigation and treatment, though I know I'll have to sooner rather than later.

So yes, life changing for me. I no longer have the confidence I once had, I stare at a six inch messy scare every day, I rearrange parts of my body so as I can get through the day, and I don't like to think what old age will bring to all my damaged bits.
 
Forgot to add the stupidest - got out of car at show where I had parked next to a fence, put one hand on the fence, the other on the cardoor - fence was electrified................... OUCH
 
nix123 said:
Forgot to add:
metal cage in my neck on 4, 5 and 6 vertebrea (they went through the front so had 37 staples across front of my neck, looked like frakenstien)
torn ligaments in left knee
broken toes and fingers (i dont count them anymore)

As to life changing... yes. They have had a change to my life. I get stared at when i'm in a swimming costume, or if i wear a skirt. People also notice the scar on the inside of my arm ( have even been asked if i tried to commit suicide once!!) The front of my neck people notice too. But i think the biggest change is inside my head with my confidence.
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I think the effect on confidence is almost worse than the effect on your body - I came off in the school and struggle with trotting in the school never mind cantering (in 6 years I think I've cantered in the school 3/4 times). I am better about cantering out hacking but still find it really difficult to start - once going I'm fine, it's the initial letting them get into the canter that I stuggle with. I'm lucky scars wise in that they're all around my ankles (total of 9 surgery scars around my ankles from multiple surgeries) and I'm really not bothered by them (I almost like them sshhh) but the permenant swelling and weird shape is annoying as is the inability to wear heels of any sort at all!

twobearsarthur said:
Along with all the usual breaks, sprains, missing bits of skin, rope burns etc.....
I suppose death was my worse!!!
Rotational fall dozen or so broken bones mouth to mouth CPR the works.
And I just keep coming back!!!
Guess it must be all the bumps to my head lol
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I think you definately win the worst injury here so far!!!!! (glad the CPR worked :p)
 
Top down, couple of concussions from falls and careless head swingers, wound up with blood clots coming down from the back of my nose with one of them.
Torn clavicle ligaments in left shoulder when the horse I was leading first time I was at college reared up.
Broke left humorous coming off a 12'2 in the school, caught my arm on the wall on the way down when the pony spooked and I wasn't paying attention.
Bruised ribs from coming off a nutcase TB at second time I was at college. She decided she wanted to canter off with the other ponies, I objected and she turned herself inside out to get me off.
Major popping of my L5-S1 disc literally sliding off the side of my pony when he was stood still, very embarrassing! I leaned over too far to put the dogs lead back on when I was riding bareback on a hogged barrel chested cob. Ended up in hospital for 3 weeks having decompression surgery and I'm still not right in my legs but that's more to do with car accidents as well.
Chunk missing from left shin courtesy of a racehorse; arthritis in my right big toe thanks to a very fat 13'2 standing on it, on a concrete floor when I was wearing rubber boots; bruised and broken toes/feet from various ponies jumping on them over the years.
The only life changing one was the back thing, I don't ride any longer, my SI joints and left leg object too much to make it worth while for anything more than a couple of minutes, so I switched to driving instead. I still get to play with my pony that way
 
forelegs said:
No offence was meant, obviously people who don't wish to share are under no obligation to reply to this thread.
I would say a lot of the replies show seriously life changing falls and injuries which people are totally willing to share, so your post was fairly unnecessary.
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My appologies to anyone I may have offended. I suspect that my post was more influenced by my own accident than I realised. I still find it incredibly uncomfortable thinking about this stuff and either wind up talking too much or trying to shut out the whole thing . Sorry again.
 
My fall was definately life changing. I had to give up work. I take Tramadol & Gabapentin thrice daily which leaves me in a permanent state of 'fogginess'. When I over exert myself I have to take morphine.
I struggle to get dressed in the morning.
My horse is on full livery as I can't manage the mucking out any more.
My confidence is shattered. I got on him twice last year, once on the 2 year anniversary of the fall, then a week later. Couldn't call it riding, though.
If I let myself think about how my life has been wrecked I would sit & cry, so I don't.
 
arlosmum said:
My fall was definately life changing. I had to give up work. I take Tramadol & Gabapentin thrice daily which leaves me in a permanent state of 'fogginess'. When I over exert myself I have to take morphine.
I struggle to get dressed in the morning.
My horse is on full livery as I can't manage the mucking out any more.
My confidence is shattered. I got on him twice last year, once on the 2 year anniversary of the fall, then a week later. Couldn't call it riding, though.
If I let myself think about how my life has been wrecked I would sit & cry, so I don't.
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Redefining the value of life when it has been permanently changed must be one of the most difficult things of all to do. That said, a good cry every now and then is a/ justified and b/ cathartic!
 
1994 - pony bolted with me into traffic , jumped into main road hit a car somersaulted, saddle broke, i ended up underneath and she trampled me, i then got hit by a car. outcome: has to be resuscitated , lost half my pancreas as ponies roads studs combined with weight had squished my stomach and burst it.... multiple breaks.

2006 - horse threw me into fence broke my back in 3places, left side of body paralysed for 3 weeks. live in constant pain.

2008 - working with horse in america...got e-coli and subsequent kidney failure and organs shut down.

fun times!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Mike007 said:
My appologies to anyone I may have offended. I suspect that my post was more influenced by my own accident than I realised. I still find it incredibly uncomfortable thinking about this stuff and either wind up talking too much or trying to shut out the whole thing . Sorry again.
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No offence taken, I have to admit I've never had a 'life changing' accident myself so wouldn't understand how it affects different people in different ways.
 
Gosh there are some terrifying accounts here. x

In fifteen years of riding I've escaped fairly lightly as far as physical injuries go.

Got kicked in the knee by a Shetland as a kid, no lasting scars. Came off a handful of times during lessons and later while working with my lease horses. Always got right back on. Then I got trampled by my first lease horse (a Danish Warmblood mare) as the second attacked her in the field due to jealousy. The Danish jumped to get away and landed on my leg. As it would turn out later, she had fractured some of the bones in my right foot. Don't think I have ever seen anything swell as fast as that foot did when the riding boot came off!

Worst fall was off my third and last lease horse. A Lipizzan mare I evented with. Was an absolute handful to ride and I only ended up with her because my riding instructor paired me up with her after my second lease horse was retired and I refused to back down from the challenge. Came off over a fence in the arena and landed on my head. Got a concussion although I didn't realize at the time so I got back on both her and two other horses after her to do the course again...

Following this I owned two horses for 8 and a half years in total and never came off once (in spite of my first boy's best efforts). But being stepped on on the foot I originally injured has always been particularly painful, and to this day it will hurt if I take a wrong step or go jogging.
 
I don't really ride,but my girls do.Worst injury so far was fairly minor.Youngest's Section A was spooked by a tractor and took off down the road,I hung onto the lead rein and got dragged down the road after him.Took the skin off my hands and knees,daughter shaken but stayed on so we continued our hack.
 
I've not had any major horse riding accidents but when it comes to bikes.... Well I nearly died!!! Went on a biking holiday to France (should have picked horse holiday instead!!) fell off bike down a red run, dissected right side carotid artery causing a blood clot stopping all blood going to brain. Basically a stroke. Left whole of my left side paralyzed. Leg slowly coming back but arm - nothing. Can't move left hand or arm. My horse hasn't been ridden since (August 2013) and to get my horsey fix I go to Rda. Desperate to ride my own but tacking up and getting on & off with one hand etc could prove tricky!!!

I Spent 10 days in intensive care where Schumacher is, 9 weeks in hospital near home & then 4 Months in rehab. Now nowhere near fully functional.

Lesson learnt - bikes are dangerous- horses are safer!!!

Stay safe my fellow H&Hers- being broken isn't much fun :-(
 
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