[wellies]

Yesterday my friend came over and was going to ride a horse (with owners permission) who is stabled here with me riding my horse. Horses in, groomed, tacked, all good. On mounting the mare my friend was due to ride lurched forward and caught the stable door which was slightly a jar (please no comments about how it should have been shut). End result friend fell on yard, all seemed ok I secured the horses whilst telling her to lie still. She seemed ok, bit shaken but ok. Did a quick once over and all seemed to be in the right place. She then tried to stand, collapsed in pain and I called an ambulance. They arrived assessed and called air ambulance. Whilst friend received copious amounts of drugs I got the sheep in to the stables from the field to prepare for air ambulance landing. Promptly got taken out by a sheep and hit the ambulance with a thud and ended up under the bumper. Paramedics at this point got a bit over proficient with checking me over  . The result for my poor dear friend is 3 fractures to her vertebrae and a possible trapped nerve. Not a particularly spectacular fall but the end result just devastating. Obviously not my first thought but this morning I checked the horse's insurance (- 3rd party public liability) which seemed the appropriate thing to do. It appears that this will cover the accident but my friend would have to prove the owner was negligent which would apparently be very difficult as she knew and chose to ride the horse. I am now thinking I will not let anyone on my horse unless they have their own personal accident cover for riding, it's just too worrying. Been up all night thinking of why it happened, if I could have stopped it happening or if there was any indication before hand. I really don't think there was but just keep going over & over it. My friend is being so very brave.

[suziequeue]

CRIPES!!!

It only takes a second. We tread such a fine line between normality and devastation.

Well done for acting quickly and getting the ambulance and thinking about the sheep and the HLS.

Sounds like you did everything that you could do... it's just very very unfortunate.

You wouldn't be normal if you didn't loose sleep over the issue.

Thinking of you and your friend 

[mintytwoshoes]

Hi,
Really feel for you - its so difficult to anticipate these happenings!  Sending big hugs .  So hope your friend recovers ok.
We have two horses and a few years ago I slipped whilst hosing a leg due to the hose being behind me.  My mare was only two and panicked walking over me and treading on my leg.  Not her fault but it could have been so much worse it could have been my head or one of my children.   Nothing broken fortunately but really badly bruised for ages and painful.... a month ago I fractured my ribs by being squashed between the wall and a horse but much better now.  So I really feel for your friend and for you.   My injuries seem minor in comparison - it certainly puts you off and you have my sympathies with the insurance.  Hope you manage to sort things out.  Will be thinking of you.   [size=78%]Hug[/size]

[Roxy]

OMG ....that must have been terrible - for your friend, and you too.  These things happen - we cannot predict what our animals will do, even the most "bombproof".  What happened was not your fault, and any one who rides, will be fully aware of the risks we take. 
 
Hope your friend makes a good recovery, and you are not  feeling too bruised after your close encounter with an ambulance.......at least you had the paramedics on hand.
 
I know a couple of people who have had accidents on their land with horses - then trying to get other livestock away from the area because of the air ambulance landing,only to end up being injured like you, whilst doing it.

[in the hills]

   No matter how hard we try, accidents will happen.

[Berkshire Boy]

As said accidents happen, nobody to blame just one of those things. Trouble with horses big animal brain the size of a pea.

[scarlettoara]

what a shock for everyone. 
i borrowed a friends horse who then reared up and fell over onto me and broke my pelvis in 2 places. i had to have caesarians rather than natural child birth with my children as a result.
iv also been trampled when my pony cauht herself in the doorway, i still have a funny shaped leg 20 yrs later.
accidents happen so quickly, and horses do just move on instinct when they take fright.

[Blinkers]

BLIMEY - what a day you had ..... and a sleepless night, but I double ditto everything said by suziequeue.  Well done for quick action.  Accidents happen and they happen bloomin fast!
 

[Lesley Silvester]

Sound like you did everything you could have and quickly, so well done you. Feeling guilty is normal after something like this happens but how could you be responsible for what the horse did? I'm sure your friend is aware that horses, like any animal, aren't always predictable. Many of us still have the scars to prove that. I hope your friend's injuries heal quickly and as painlessly as possible and that you recover from both your fall and your concerns.

If ever I have an accident, I hope I have someone as quick-thinking as you around. 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Sound like you did everything you could have and quickly, so well done you. Feeling guilty is normal after something like this happens but how could you be responsible for what the horse did? I'm sure your friend is aware that horses, like any animal, aren't always predictable. Many of us still have the scars to prove that. I hope your friend's injuries heal quickly and as painlessly as possible and that you recover from both your fall and your concerns.

If ever I have an accident, I hope I have someone as quick-thinking as you around. 

Sadly after a test case, the Animals act currently imposes strict liability on horse owners for their animals actions (so even if someone lets them out of the field and they get onto a road and someone gets hurt). It was meant to be amended to exclude cases where there was no negligence but that hasn't had parliamentary time yet. Hence the reason the OPs 3rd party liability insurance is absolutely essential for all horse owners. But also a good idea for anyone riding someone elses horse to have a personal accident policy.
OP I hope that things are a bit better today and you are getting over the shock of it all, really feel for you, these things come out of nowhere!

[john and helen]

sounds like it has all been said... these things happen... best wishes for your friend, and i hope you are ok after head butting the ambulance..what a day..

[mcginty]

Been bit by a donkey just after she had her foal,
boy, she took some grip on the lower leg,
still attending surgery six weeks later.
Scary to and it came unexpected.

[Plantoid]

Wellies have you informed your insurers that there MAY be a claim in the offing.
 My policy fine print said I had to tell them as soon as possible if such an event arose  , so by default a failure to do so asap could put things in jepardy

[sabrina]

When it comes to animals anything can happen. I have years of experience and quite often do things then think that was risky. I can no longer ride but teaching my granddaughter. If anything I am a bit too careful with her and she gets fed up when I go on about always wearing a hat even to lead to the field. Stuff happens in an instant and I hope your friend will be ok.