Old barn mate broke her back. Having Feelings about it

[quarab]

I learned last night that a friend broke her back riding. I don’t know the particulars about the incident other than that she was riding her greenie walk/trot as she had been doing for the last 6 months without issue. Spinal injuries are probably my biggest fear – I’ve experienced organ failure several times but spinal injuries give me the heebie jeebies.

I recently moved from an eventing barn to a dressage barn for a couple reasons, one of them being that I’m accepting that I’m too much of a chicken to jump more than 2’6" regularly. The eventer (Sarah Yorke) who passed away this month also threw me for a loop and I felt happier with my decision to not press on with eventing but maybe putter around some small arena stuff on occasion. Of course, nothing in riding is 100% and this was definitely a painful reminder of that.

On the rational side I’m dealing with it by reconsidering wearing my (traditional xc) vest more often, and reconsidering an air vest though I’m still not entirely swayed by the arguments for them and the (lack of) available research. I’ve considered a LandSafe clinic in the past but it doesn’t seem like I can feasibly get to one. I’ve talked to a couple people who have felt gymnastics and/or vaulting experience has helped them – anyone else feel that way?

On the emotional side - just some empathy would be nice. I have a therapist who has definitely heard me talk about the people-side of riding though I’m not sure if it will be extremely helpful to try and talk through it with an “outsider”. It makes me feel clinically insane to explain the risks and why I still do it on the regular.

[MissusS]

First of all, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. That is awful and must hit so very close to home for you.

On the rational side of things: I am an adult beginner with great aspirations of one day riding intro level dressage tests. I wear a body protector (RaceSafe Provent 3.0) every single ride. Last weekend I was riding out with a friend who asked if I was boiling in my vest and I honestly said I don’t even notice it. I am a huge proponent of safety equipment

On the emotional side of things: Take the time you need to process your feelings. Humans do all sorts of “insane” things (loaded with risks) because they enrich our lives.

I hope both you and your friend are able to find comfort and healing.

[Annie10]

I broke my back in 2 places 2023 off my greenie as well. The way I landed my vest was completely useless.
Unfortunately due to other illness and injuries that seem to keep plaguing me I have only sat on a horse twice since.
And I meant sat. That’s it.
At this point it’s really in my head and I get anxiety about riding just thinking about it ugh. So I totally understand how you feel I just have no idea what to do about it.

[sherian]

I always ride in a traditional vest and helmet - had my worst wrecks putzing around on the flat not when I’ve been doing high risk riding and bringing my A game. I did find my martial arts training has helped - you learn to roll and fall and you practice it enough for it to become muscle memory.

[outside_leg]

I broke my back riding, not even falling, just an awkward landing from a jump that jarred me in just the wrong way. I didn’t know it at first, and didn’t even realize anything was wrong until the next day when I went to work out and collapsed the first time I picked up a weight.

After that, I chased the injury around for a while, delaying the inevitable. I tried an injection that did absolutely nothing, so my only real option was surgery. I had a disc replacement at L5-S1 a little over two years ago.

Let me tell you, I get how scary these injuries are. I know firsthand how scary going into something like spinal surgery is. But it was a game changer for me. I was pain free as soon as I was out of surgery. I’m riding and jumping bigger and better than ever. So even though these injuries are frightening, they aren’t necessary life or even career ending. Not that we should take unnecessary risks—I’m very mindful of my safety—but it’s important to remember that sometimes we tend to remember the worst, most tragic outcomes of things, and not the other more mundane ones.

[4horses]

That is a very encouraging reply. I have one foal, a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old horse… Sometimes i think “what the hell am I doing with these young horses? I could get injured badly!”

The thing is, I already have health issues that can kill me… so why am I worried about getting injured? I could eat a contaminated food tomorrow and go into anaphylaxis and die. My friend has food allergies and went to Sonnys BBQ for a birthday dinner. I think she had grilled chicken that was contaminated and she ended up in the hospital with a near death experience. She’s lucky to be alive.

The future isn’t guaranteed. We have to enjoy life as much as we can. I may end up hanging up my riding boots early (osteoporosis is why my mother stopped riding) and I expect the same will happen to me eventually. I’m not sure I will be like my friends who are determined to ride until their 80s.

[Amberley]

@outside_leg

I had a disc replacement at L5-S1 a little over two years ago.

Can I ask where you had that done? I’ve had a disc injury for 20+ years now and refused to get a fusion. With lots of careful work I stabilized it and can do anything I want within reason but I know eventually I’m looking at a disc replacement when the tech gets good enough.

[exvet]

I’m sorry about your friend. Riding is a risk endeavor. I’m 62 and starting/backing yet another green bean. He’s 3 and has a good mind. My daughter broke her back when she was 16 and foolishly was showing off for her friends mounting my FEI horse while he was turned out - no halter, bridle or saddle. Choices has consequences. She does still ride but will forever remember her poor choice on that day. I realize that this may be my last ‘start’ but I would regret more not giving it my all.

[outside_leg]

I had mine done at the Bone and Joint Institute in Connecticut. I was considered a good candidate for this because of my age (30s) and being in very good shape.

I don’t blame you for avoiding the fusion option. When I was doing PT as part of my recovery, the difference in my comfort and strength level versus the fusion patients was night and day. I’m very happy I went the route I did.

[Foxglove]

After a few older friends who were members of my fox hunt were badly injured --one by her horse falling while practicing dressage, one taking a huge fence on a hunt, and one hit by a car as she walked across a parking lot --I had to reflect on my own frailties as a +70 year old person. I think subconsciously I’d been “warning” myself for some time. I stopped taking o/f lessons and stopped riding first flight. While I continued to go o/f with my rock solid field hunter when hunting, I never took anything huge or fast.

When the opportunity presented seven years ago to take up Mounted Archery --no jumping, safe gallop down a manicured list and shoot a few arrows at targets, I jumped in. I continued to shoot and compete until last year --I would likely still be shooting but for whatever reason, the wave of Mounted Archery crested and passed. Last year there were 6 competitions within driving range --this year there was one and it was cancelled due to heat.

Meanwhile, I’d come across a lovely QH. We looked at each other and said, “What now?” A nice young woman (the farrier’s daughter) saw Bob while her dad was trimming and said, “He’d be great in Ranch Horse.” --lightbulb moment.

In April of 24 we set out on our quest --we acquired the correct tack, we found a great trainer, and we did our homework. A year later we entered our first ranch horse show.

And now I am back to looking forward to riding! Ranch Riding is (for me) a 0 pressure sport. I show locally, 4 shows a year, 40 miles from my house. At each show, someone makes mistakes, someone goes off pattern, someone forgets the pattern, someone’s horse misbehaves --and the response? Never laughter --just a lot of people saying just the right thing to make one feel better.

My friend’s horse bucked going into the ring and was immediately DQed. No worries, she warmed him up better and went into the second class. At $20-40 a class --not a big deal.

Follow your instincts. If riding the horse or discipline you are currently pursuing isn’t fun, look around. There are lots of things to do with a horse --right now around me liberty training is all the rage –

The best part about horses is that if it doesn’t suit you, it is possible to change your mind again and go back to what you were doing. I don’t think I’ll fox hunt again —I have all my stuff and will keep it for a year --but then --I’m going to sell everything English. I think. Maybe not.

[steelerino]

I think that fear comes with age sometimes, or at least it did for me. I retired my horse 2 years ago and bopped around on a few leases since then. My favorite type of ride now, is a lovely hack out at the walk lol.

[imbassetma]

In 2019 I had L4-L5-S1 fused with laminectomy and all that to clean out and make space between those. I was disabled before, and completely pain free afterwards, my only regret is not doing it sooner. This was not from a riding injury, just a horrible back. Fast forward to Friday night, came off during a spook on a hack, T6 compression fracture, I’ll be seeing the same back Dr from my prior fusion and have no doubt, he’ll figure out something to get me back in the saddle! That is part of my ease at the moment, my confidence in this Dr.

I’ll be honest, my riding fears previously have been conquered when I started anxiety medication (Lexapro). I literally couldn’t get myself to horse shows before then without a meltdown of anxiety. But I’ll be interested to see how I feel when I’m up to getting back in the saddle after this latest episode!