About a week and a half ago I was cutting the wrist loop off of a new crop with a VERY sharp hunting knife (ironically so I wouldn’t be tempted to put my wrist through it and hurt myself in the case of a fall :rolleyes:), and managed to slice through the top joint of my middle finger. Defiantly not one of my brighter moments… I was driven to the ER and had 5 stitches put in and was told I was very lucky because the nerve damage was minimal and the tendon was only cut 50% through. I was given a splint and told to keep it curved and stable until the specialist said otherwise. While, when I got to the specialist we discovered that my finger wouldn’t move and I was booked for a tendon repair surgery. Now I will be in a cast for the next while and then a splint for the remainder of the 3 months. Luckily the doctor realizes that there is no way I’m staying away from the barn, but I simply cannot use my left hand at all.
So my big question is what will I be able to do? As a 16 year old that has been working my butt off for the last few months to get ready for show season only to get this injury 8 days before the first show, I’m upset enough and it doesn’t help that I live next door to my barn and can see my lease horse from my bedroom window most days.
My plan is to find a western saddle for a bit more security and do lots of one handed walking hill work to keep him fit in the next few months. Luckily that’s one of his favourite things to do (second to jumping, but that’s definitely out of the question) and will basically put on his western pleasure face and walk along on the buckle for hours. We have also been working on being handled from both sides and will happily stand as long as it takes for me to mount from the offside.
Any tips or tricks from people who have been in similar situations? Is there anything that I will find impossible to do? I know it will be a long road until I’m back in the show ring and have use of my hand again, but I’m looking for things to do that will help the time pass quicker.
Thank you!
I haven’t lost a hand, but my shoulder has been non-functional for quite a while, so…
Depending on how good your cast is (and exactly what your doctor said - don’t go falling off and doing more damage to it!), there’s lots of things you can do. Grooming, though, and day-to-day things will take some managing - do you have people who can help you pick hooves and tack up?
As for riding, you can do a lot of lateral work (making him move off your leg), riding without stirrups, and just messing around to see how little rein aid you can get away with. And, of course, if your trainer is willing, now would be the perfect time for longe-line position work (no reins at all for you).
Make lemonade!
I completely forgot about lunge line lessons! I need to work on riding more upright, and I think this will be an awesome idea! I’m pretty sure my trainer will be more than willing to switch out my regular lesson for ones on the lunge. Thank you for the idea! 
I think my biggest struggle will be with gates, but luckily I have access to helpful lesson kids! I should be able to groom normally, it will just take twice as long and an extra sharp eye for lumps and bumps. As for picking hooves, I will have access to a hoof cradle to keep his feet up for me!
I’m also thinking of designating a few days a week to playing in the round pen with the giant soccer ball and tarps.
keep. it. clean ! big floppy plastic gloves (like food service gloves) or something. not only to keep the wound clean, but to keep the splint/etc clean. nothing like coming home from the barn and showering (those plastic bags newspapers come in are great to cover casts/splints–use a couple rubber bands around your am) and having l’air du cheval following you around because you got something… fragrant, on the splint. 
I was in a cast for 6 months after breaking my navicular bone (in wrist). The cast immobilized my thumb and fingers completely - for a while. I peeled the cast down off my thumb some, and found I was able to use my ring finger and pinky of my hand enough to tack up, and rode two to three horses a day. If you know how to cross your reins, you should be able to ride one handed pretty easily. BTW - I don’t recommend peeling your cast down. Be careful and just do what feels ok.
