Season over for eventer who broke five ribs in an accident at home
An event rider broke five ribs when a youngster spooked in the yard and knocked her to the floor.
Bryony Whittington was getting the horse ready for a competition when the accident happened last weekend (28 August).
“I was washing his leg when something spooked him and he jumped in my direction, knocking me over,” she told H&H.
Bryony ended up under the horse’s back legs, but luckily her mum Angie was there to pull her out.
She called the land and air ambulance and both arrived simultaneously.
“It could have been a lot worse, thankfully Mum was there. She saved the day again,” said Bryony.
The Kent and Sussex Air Ambulance took her to A&E at the Royal Sussex hospital.
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“They were amazing,” Bryony said. “I remember looking up at the doctor from the air ambulance and recognising him, he’s on Helicopter Heroes. I love that programme and felt very safe.”
A CT scan showed there were multiple fractures in five ribs and a haematoma on the liver.
“I’m a bit laid up, but at least I have got Burghley to watch,” said Bryony, who spent four days in hospital, arriving home to her yard at Rotherfield near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on Thursday.
“It’s ironic as I wasn’t even sat on top of a horse, but it wasn’t his fault at all” said Bryony.
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- Rider’s face ‘shattered’ when horse fly-bucked after cross-country
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“Doctors have said no riding for 6-8 weeks, which means the season is over for me this year.”
Burlington Skyfall has had to be pulled out of this month’s Osberton International Horse Trials (29 September-2 October).
“That was disappointing, but he can crack on next year,” said Bryony.
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