This is the video that many of you have been waiting for--the infamous footage of me fracturing my fibia.

I knew I was in for an interesting ride from our first lap at the trot when she threw a fit by the exit. The jumper ring has a dressage ring border, as you can see, so there are two wide-open ends. One of the prevalent theories as to why she tossed me was that she was bolting for the other exit, which she was lined up with at the time (although, when she did toss me, she ran herself into the corner formed by the rail and a jump, and did not leave).

She seemed to settle back into her work, but I had a few things working against me: 1) she was in heat and 2) I didn't lunge her. I may have inadvertently created the perfect storm. I don't always lunge her before I ride her, but I don't remember what my reasoning was for not lunging her that day--perhaps she was dozing off in the cross ties?--but lesson learned.

Another theory I had was that she really despised her ear net. On the two days where I introduced her to life in an ear net, she acted up. These were the only two times in her life that she had one on. It could just be coincidence, but needless to say, I've not approached her with an ear net since. :)

In terms of the fall itself, I was doing a lengthening/collecting exercise at the canter. There was another horse in the ring for a lesson, but that mare was on the opposite end of the ring at the time and I don't feel had any connection to Clue's behavior. As I asked her to collect on the short side, I felt her surge forward to gallop off. My gut reaction was to get her turned onto a circle, and you can see that I throw my weight back in the saddle (anticipating further trouble) and start to twist my shoulder as I bring the right rein back. That's as far as I got in my plan. As soon as I made my attempt to turn her onto a circle, she let one good buck go. Quite frankly, I've sat worse; I think what got me was that my body was already twisted in my attempt to turn her. The next thing I knew, my neck had jerked back from my untimely landing on her head. I looked down and realized I was holding either side of her bridle and was riding her head. At that point, I was worried about her dropping her head and me getting trampled. Epona shoes or not, that was probably going to be ugly. I opted to eject to the left; I was hoping I'd complete the rotation and flop on my back. I almost pulled it off, but my right ankle didn't make it; I basically sat on my right ankle and jerked it the wrong way. I knew as soon as I hit the dirt that something was definitely -not right- with that ankle. I've never broken anything before, so I had nothing for comparison.

The doctor in the ER confirmed I had fractured my fibia; the good thing was, the bones remained aligned. My recovery from this injury was relatively fast. I was on crutches for maybe a week and a half before I became sick of them. I stomped around in my air cast boot, and eventually downgraded to wrapping my ankle. I was riding again--most of the time in a bareback pad so as not to pressure that ankle--in a matter of a couple weeks (mind you, my orthopedic surgeon said that the type of break I had was one that could probably heal on its own if it wasn't slammed around; he condoned the getting back to riding as soon as possible). Thanks again to Mahlon, Jen, and Sheryl for working my horses when I couldn't.

To sum up: I think I got caught not paying attention. Of course, I was paying attention, but not as closely as I could have been. I was enjoying her lovely, smooth canter, and had to react to what she was doing, rather than having the opportunity to react to the pre-freakout signals she may have been sending. Food for thought. ;) Anyway, I love my horse, and I am proud of her for everything she has accomplished...including teaching me the hard lessons when I need them. :)

P.S. - Like my Mom's commentary at the end? That was us leaving the hospital at the end of a VERY long day... (less info)