Hello

I am 39 years old and have been riding for 6 years.I own a 4 yr old PMU mare, Lily. I bought her when she was 2 and broke her and trained her with my trainer.One day I put the wrong saddle on her and she bucked and I fell off. After falling, she was still bucking and kicked me in the back and sent me head first into the wall. I suffered a concussion and hurt my neck. That was in 12/07. My trainer and I did a lot of ground work and my trainer rode her. After about 8 months, I was back on Lily and doing well. She does get spooked and we had been working on that. Then I was riding her on 08/23/2009 and I had her saddler out. I was riding her without the saddle pad and just the saddle for the saddler. I had already ridden her for 20 minutes walk/trot and she was great. On my last trot circle, she spooked at a horse coming in the ring behind her and bolted. I wasn't nervous as she has bolted before and I easily stopped her. However, this time she started her  bucks and after 2 of them I knew I was coming off. I flew off her right side and landed on my right shoulder and back. I knew I broke something right away because the pain was so intense. I was again taken to the ED and found that I shattered my collarbone in 5 pieces. I had to see an orthopedic surgeon and had surgery to fix my pieces. I had to have a metal plate and 6 screws put into my collarbone as it would not have healed on its own. So I am now 6wks from the accident and 5 wks post surgery and just starting physical therapy. I can finally move the arm but can't lift it more than 1/2 way up. I will get full use of the arm back but it will take a lot of PT. My trainer has since continued to ride Lily and even showed her in her first dressage show and Lily won 1st place. We think the reason she bucked was b/c I didn't have a saddle pad on her and the saddle slipped and pinched her. She is very sensitive with her back and saddle. I have had the chiropractor out and am having the saddler back out to adjust the saddle. Lily is still growing. My questions are: has anyone else had an injury requiring a metal plate and how nervous were you to ride again?? I am not afraid to ride horses but am nervous to ride Lily b/c I don't want to fall again and break the plate. Also, I am so torn as to what to do with Lily. I love her and we have a bond but am nervous to ride her again as she does spook at times. I have thought of just having my trainer ride her until Lily is older to see if she mellows out. My family wants me to sell her and get a calmer horse. I don't know what to do. In the 2 years I have had her, I fell twice and both falls resulted in me going to the hospital. And both times, we can relate Lily's bucking to saddle issues. I so need advice from fellow horse people as my family is not helping. Please help!!! What would you do?????

Having had shoulder surgery twice on the same shoulder, I can tell you a few things about PT from experience. I do not have any plate/pins/screws, but doing PT at the pace you should is very important. It's a process that needs to be taken at the right pace or you'll just end up taking longer to get your movement back. Also I asked my PT woman if I could do the same things at home every day and how much of them I should do. If I varied too quickly, my shoulder/arm would let me know. Then I would rest it for a couple of days and start back with it. When I saw my surgeon for the first post-op appt., he said to me, "You're not just doing PT twice a week, but every day right?" I said nervously, 'Yes why?" He replied because of how far along you are and the movement you have." lol Whew, didn't get yelled at! ;) My last post-op is this month and I have no pain along with near 100% movement and about 60% strength back. I think he'll be pleased, since I had surgery the beginning of July after 1 1/2 yrs of pain w/o much movement.

Have you spoken to your surgeon about when you can resume groundwork again and when you safely can ride with your shoulder? I would presume he/she will ask you to stay off any horse for some time. Trust me the last thing you want to do is screw up what has already been fixed! I know from falling on that shoulder and needing another surgery 1 1/2 yrs. later. Yes I went longer than I should have, but I'm stubborn that way. LOL

As to Lily, that's your call. You have to think about: do you want to chance another episode of her bucking you off and possibly doing real damage to that shoulder that can't be fixed or find a calmer horse to ride and let your trainer or others ride Lily, keeping her as a companion for the calmer horse or sell her to a good home..... 

  I had a similar experience with a horse I still dearly love, Ice.  He's sweet, extremely talented, young and spooky.  My bad fall from him ended in a helecopter ride because of broken ribs and a broken back. My not so bad fall from him ended with a deep bruise to my hip and a sprained wrist.

   What I can tell you from personal experience is that you have to trust your gut. I personally needed to get back on Ice after the first fall to give myself balance within myself. I didn't like the ending I had with him. I continued to ride him reguarly for a month or two until he bolted and then gave a dirty spook get me off.  I had been considering buying Ice, but that changed my mind.  I'm no young "velcro" rider anymore.  I'm 37 and falling is a little harder to shake off than when I was 13. 

   I wound up purchasing a 10 y/o paint horse who has much more life experience.  Ice, who was 4 at the time of the first accident, now has a new person who adores him.  She is a young "velcro" rider who thinks his bucks, bolts, spooks and now, rearing, are amusing.  

  I guess what I'm saying here is that Ice and I both wound up in better situations after we parted.  You don't have to stay with a horse if he/she scares you.  If you do chose to sell it seems you have a good trainer who may be able to play matchmaker for you. She knows your mare and probably could find the just right person for her.  As for you be honest with yourself.  You will know the just right horse when you meet him/her. I thought I wanted a young horse to train, but it turns out I needed a steady eddie packer. Go figure.

I really appreciate all of the advice. I do always wear a helmet and after the first fall, I bought a new one as the old one hit the wall. I am so confused as to what to do. I had never planned on getting a baby. I just fell in love with her. I will likely not be riding again until spring as need a few months of therapy to get the arm moving again and then want to gain strenght back. I will be riding my trainer's 2 horses when I am ready as they are both very trustworthy. Sellling Lily is such a difficult decision because aside from my two falls, I have had amazing rides on her. I think I will let my trainer keep training her and I will make a decision next summer when I am ready to ride again. Then I can see if Lily mellows more. I wish I could just get a second horse, but can't afford two. In the best possible world, I would give her to my trainer but she already has 2 horses. Just so confused......

reinchick53 thanks so much for your kind words. I am very confused because Lily has been amazing to ride all summer. I even rode her when she crow hopped in her canter. My trainer and I are close and she has been riding for 15 years and she feels Lily will be a good horse. She does however understand my confusion and says she supports any decision I do make about Lily. At this point, I am going to wait and see since I will not be riding until spring/summer anyway. Will see what the saddler says as well. Thanks for the support!

Good advice from all here. But ultimately it's going to be a question of your confidence and ability to ride this young horse. How much you love her is NOT a good way to make the decision.

From what you describe, both accidents were rider error; a wrong saddle and riding without a pad. I understand giving the horse the benefit of doubt about the cause of the wrecks. But ultimately, the end result has put long-lasting effects on YOU. And the horse has also learned at least two lessons about how to unseat you. Even though others may successfully ride this horse while you are recuperating, she will test you again and your first instinct will probably be "Oh, NO! Not again!"

Something else you might want to think about is your family. Your injuries have put them through a lot, too. And yet they still support your desire to own and ride horses. That's very important. It may be a good idea to listen to their advice and get a horse more suitable to your riding skills and yet-to-be-discovered physical limitations.

I had my right shoulder screwed back together a year and a half ago (non-horse related injury) and it's greatly altered the way I work around horses and what I can do with them. Even with 35+ years of riding experience I now choose my mounts carefully. But they are horses and the risk of injury or even death is always present. Even for an experienced, healthy and sound rider.

I suggest taking the emotion out of your decision, minimize your risk and doing whatever you need to do to keep riding with your family's support. ~FH

It's kinda strange, but the two times that I came off my horse, Winston I had to go to the Hospital as well! The 1st time I fractured my pelvis...jumping and the last time...just this past August 3rd and about 8:30 at night I broke my neck, dislocated my shoulder, broke all my ribs on my left side, punctured a lung and was knocked unconscious! Nice, huh? And from a horse I raised from a foal to his present 12! And we were...jumping! I'm 52 and my neurologist said I had angels on my wings! I'm going to be fine but I don't know what's wrong with me...I can NOT wait to get back on!! Both times he bucked but this last one he would not stop and it was like a rodeo buck. IMO, I don't think anyone can tell you what you should do as far as your mare...it's something you have to decide. Both of your falls were related to a saddle issue, both of mine were related to something I did while jumping that was just plain dumb? Many are saying the same thing, that I should sell him...but I won't and I cana't! Perhaps you might want to get a comfortale Western saddle for when you start back riding? It might just give you that little bit of security you need to get back in the saddle on LILY! You can email anytime if ya just want to vent or talk...I live in Alaska and the winters are long and I love internet friends! Hanfg in there....you don't have to make this decision right now! And I DO feel for ya...I'm still not working but 10 hours a week, can't shave my own armpits, am ready to tear this plastic and metal neck brace off and am looking forward to the day I can actually ROLL over in bed! But I'm a tough old broad....broke an arm sky diving in the Army! LOL!

 Hi!  CAn totally relate.  I am 39 years old and got bucked off a friend's Gorgeous young Friesian Gelding.  I broke both leg bones at the ankle joint, dislocated my foot and ruptured ligaments. the bones were put back togher with a plate 9 screws and wire!  

it really knocked my confidence.  The horse wasn't mine so that wasn't a problem...his owner sold him shortly after because he bucked a couple of other people off as well.  I do own a couple of my own horses that are a bit spunky.  My mare is a PMU...shire X arab.  I got her when she was four years old...she is fantastic, but uses a spooking tactic to get out of work.  I also own a young dutchwarmblood x arab gelding.  

As a result of my accident, I found myself getting very nervous, which caused my mare to be nervous.  It has taken numerous lessons with competent people to help me gain my confidence back with her.  My gelding on the other hand, needs quite a bit of training so I have come to the unfortunate decision to find him a new home.  I don't have the confidence to give him what he needs.  I have a found a young woman that says he is just what she is looking for.  

Sooo...it is entirely up to you!  How do you feel?  I have to say that the key to unlocking my nervousness while I rode my mare was breathing.  Every couple of seconds, I remind myself to breathe.  It is amazing how it affects not ony the rider but the horse as well.  If the rider's body tenses...so will the horse's.  

Take your time and make the decision that is best for you.  It has been a year since my accident and initially, my husband wanted me to sell both horses...and get out of it all together.  It gets nerve wracking and makes you really doubt yourself and your decisions.  I highly recommend you take your time and do what is best for you.  It has taken me a year to come to my conclusions!

take care!

What has amazed me, cuz I also got posts from a different site, is how hurt some riders get and they just keep on going like the Ever Ready Rabbit!! I've read of women, of ALL ages, breaking bones, and losing this or that and hurting this and etc...and they ride AGAIN!! It might take some a while, but it seems like eventually they get back on. That is, in my opinion, far beyond being a HOBBY, it's a passion! AndI say to all of us out there...RIGHT ON!!! 

Again thanks for all of the input. I am not sure what my final decision will be when I am ready to ride again. I am not afraid to ride horse, but the more I have been thinking, I am afraid to ride my horse. I actually sat on one of my trainer's horses yesterday and as led around since I can't use my right arm. I felt totally safe but don't know if I will feel that on my horse. I spent time grooming her yesterday and feel as if our bond has broken a bit. I don't know.....I think that she will be a great horse in the end but don't know if she is the right match for me. She has a lot of spunk and at this point in my life, I don' know if I can handle it. My trainer is great with her but I doubt she would buy her as she already has 2 horses. I just want riding to be fun again and not always worry that when I ride my horse, she will spook and I will fall. I just don't want to keep getting hurt. I am going to take some time to make my decision as I am not allowed toride until spring. Just such a hard decision to make....

Just keep in mind...riding should be fun...not stressful.... Give yourself time to heal both physically and emotionally.  If when you are healed you find yourself excited to get to the barn whenever you can then you should keep her but if you find yourself avoiding the barn...maybe it will be time to do something else with her.  It is a DIFFICULT decision to make but you ned to make the one that is the best for you and for her.  

 Like I said... I have decided to find a new home for my gelding.  He is not the horse I got bucked off of BUT he doesn't have much training and is a "hot" horse.  I find it stressful to work with him AND feel extremely guilty because he isn't doing anything at the moment besides hanging out in the field...Although...I think he enjoys his life!  I already have a feeling of relief knowing he is going to a good home where he will have a job to do and a buddy to romp in the field with.  

 Take your time and take care!

stay safe your trainer should be working with u and your horse to improve  and maybe this is not the horse for you dont keep getting hurt  its hard keep working .