accidents happen.

As I lay here in bed tonight my mind spirals out of control.

My day started perfectly. Billing, Shipping done for hubby...
NEW update on the neck is just torn muscle that will heal with time.
Then a ride out to Biltmore.

The ride was glorious... The quiet, the colors, the company! Don protected me... as I call it from an on coming van. Sweet Pea was about to have a kanipshion fit!  She was high strung from the start and was dying to run the entire ride.  I was in her mouth holding her, neck bent, but barely listening ... so... with one sprint of a run and Sweet Pea was so excited she was hard to STOP.  But I did when I heard the NOISES behind me. My riding companion for the day on Navarre... was off and barely breathing.  Alive yes, awake yes but legs moving from pain.

got both horses tied them together and had to let them go to assist my companion.  The rider came off when Navarre balled up to jump forward with more speed, or so best I can get from his description.  Those who have ridden Navarre know this is unexpected and can catch you off guard.  My riding buddy fell off with a heavy thud onto a tree knot that had fallen onto the path etc... He was riding well, sitting tall, but all this happen so quickly it just ... happened.

I asked him to stop moving, rest, breathe.
I could see his pulse in his neck.
He could see, He wasn't bleeding, I asked him to stay still... he could move everything so he propped up on the side of the path so he didn't have to use his back etc...

It was when he went to get up, realizing the horses were GONE...
He was determined to get out of there.
HE WALKED down the path...

I whistled for the horses and they either stopped or headed back towards us. YES he tried to get back on... He realized that likely was not the best idea.... so He walked out of those woods like he was marching head of a platoon and leading the way.

I got the horses settled as he stood around wanting and begging to help me.
PAIN rushed him as he got in the truck... and ... we went straight to the ER .
I rushed to get a wheel chair and mouthed for HELP! Two nurses came out and took care of him.

I know.
I thought he was a goner.
I thought he was going to have a broken back
? damn it! I figured I was going to have to call 911 and have an ATV get him out, while I knew the horses would find other horses and that too would send people looking for us.

I rushed the horses home.
I threw out hay and left.

Another alarm was my hubby was home and he was planned to leave for a little time in Nash.  Had to check on him, see if he was ok; explain to him what was going on and go back to the ER to see if Don had at least been tended to at some level.

He had a basic x ray showed two broken almost dislocated ribs.
The blood had pooled so much this too showed up on the x ray and caused more concern so another test was ordered and a good and bad result was given.  It was actually 4 ribs broken but the lung not punctured as thought.

Thank GOD he is going to make it, but the poor guy will be in so much pain for the next week and then six weeks.

Oh bad I feel does not easily go into words.

FYI... I didn't blow my diet today I had stuff with me but I was so relaxed at one moment and so worried the next I didn't get hungry.  I did make myself eat something once I got home. After going back to the barn giving the horses more water, disconnecting and draining the hose line.  Lordy I will never get to sleep tonight...

Life is good but it changes in a moment.
My love to the world.
AegF

Before you read further... I AM FINE...

I am fine.  I am like anyone else we all take a fall sooner or later.

See I was having fun!   That is what the day was suppose to be about.  So one goal was accomplished even if for a short moment.

BUT everyone needs to remember the type of person I am ... had the situation turned out bad... this is how I want to be remembered.  A person that lived life... not one that wished she had a life.

Having said that! I am writing about this situation second hand, I still have no memories of what happened from my own version of this story.

I do remember bits and pieces.

I my work day was completed yesterday, I even stopped work on the estate early so I could get to the riding ring just to play around while the girls got ready for a show this weekend.

So I got to Annie's farm just before 4pm.  I didn't realize the girls were coming from another barn, but I was within sight distance of the ring.  Katherine drove up, and I tacked Navarre back up after spraying him down twice ( having left off one (a good) saddle blanket on the fence I was hoping to get on my walk back up the road... to exercise myself as you will see in the pictures I have gained weight again... tiz life)

Nancy was in the ring.  I was just riding Navarre ( Jerry had just shown up to take pictures so I could correct my seat, arms, legs etc... in other words to see how bad I was riding.) Navarre...  wanted to eat, then when the girls got there he wanted to be social... I don't think I ever allowed the horses to sniff each other? but that is all I remember!

Long story short? I fell off... in my mind I think I fell off.  although physically... I know I fell off.  Must not have been a big fall as Jerry would have said something,  Although he said I did upset everyone by getting back on the horse.... Which sounds like me... or  PawPaw?  you fall you get up! Quickly!   Besides the horse is too young to get me off and  me not get back on, as he would only do it again learning he could get me off and get relief from pressures of me telling him what to do.    But all I remember is Not knowing how I got to the ring, Why I was down there, or What the $&*(&^ I was doing. 

So I got off told everyone I was confused, and HOW I was confused.  I knew names to those I had known names before, I knew Jerry's phone number to call him, but ... I still have no idea of a play by play of what I did wrong with the horse. And don't get me wrong... I know I did things wrong, you can see my seat is off my shoulders are not back properly my good leg is twisted OUT, although bare back always looks worse than with the dressage saddle.  In other words I know I am at major fault with what ever else I did.

No my head didn't hurt, No my body didn't hurt YESTERDAY...

I did stay up later than normal, I did wake up and make myself stay awake answer questions from my dear husband, He woke me up before he went to sleep.   THIS MORNING... I can hardly bend over, and my head is touchy if I slosh it in the pasture four wheeling to the barn. But I am other wise fine. 

I can only assume ASS U ME that as many times as my head has hit the pavement/rock, road, dirt, gates... etc... Like a boxer it will only get worse as I get older.

Proof of my getting back on?

And such a beautiful Square Hault... AFTER I get my act together he may look even better than he does here!

OK now this is my bad leg in this picture and no matter what I do the knee is going to make the foot twist out, I would NEVER be able to show!  but I enjoy riding all the same.