‘I don’t know what I’d do without him’: teen and horse survive terrifying road accident
A young rider and her horse are recovering after a terrifying crash while out riding on the road.
Jodie Elliott was riding her own chestnut gelding Anakin, who she has owned for six years, with a friend when they heard a car approaching from behind them.
She said she remembers it approaching and although they tried to get out the way, there was not much of a verge.
“In that second, it hit the back of [Anakin’s] legs,” Jodie told H&H.
The car missed her friend and her horse, but Jodie and Anakin were thrown up on to the bonnet and windscreen. They fell separately off the car and Anakin got to his feet and cantered off, before he was caught.
“He didn’t mean to hit us,” she said, adding that he was uninjured but shaken.
Other cars also stopped to help and Jodie was taken to hospital, where she was found to have a broken hip, pelvis and elbow.
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Meanwhile Anakin sustained cuts, bruises and a hairline fracture of his hind tibia in the accident.
Jodie, who enjoys hunting and showjumping with Anakin, was discharged on Tuesday following three nights in hospital, but doctors have said she will not be walking for six weeks.
She went straight to the yard to see Anakin, who she said is “doing well” and will be x-rayed again in two weeks.
“The vets said they do not know how Anakin survived,” Jodie added.
The 17-year-old posted pictures and information about the accident on her Facebook page, which been shared more than 10,000 times.
This week, she shared pictures of her visiting Anakin and thanking all those who helped, including the friend who was riding with her at the time, Rainbow Equine Hospital, the emergency services and York Hospital, as well as everyone who has sent their good wishes.
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“[Anakin] is well and truly my best friend I don’t know what I’d do without him,” she wrote.
“Thank you to everyone who helped me in every way, it really means a lot.”
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police told H&H on Friday (2 December) that the force is investigating, but no arrests have been made.
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.