Arabella’s Accident
Riding is a dangerous sport and many riders and handlers are injured at some time or other. One up-and-coming event rider shares her experience with us. This first part of her ‘story’ deals with the pain, frustration and emotional roller-coaster that Arabella suffers.
My name is Arabella Clegg. I’m a 19-year-old event rider from Oxfordshire. I feel I can call myself an event rider as I have ridden internationally at 2* level. I currently compete on two horses: Danse de Feu (Molly) a 10-year-old Irish Sport horse and L’Aurore Choral, a 9-year- old Thoroughbred. After leaving school in the Summer of 2010 until June last year, I went as a working pupil to a 4*event rider. Then I worked as a ‘rider’ in a show jumping yard, breaking in and working youngsters and competing my two event horses. My aims for the near future are to represent Britain in the youth teams and later the senior teams. However, as the winter of 2011 approached, my future was put on hold by a riding accident I had whilst out hacking, which resulted in a serious head injury. Although I have no memory of what happened or what caused this accident, I can be sure that my Champion Ventair riding hat saved my head from permanent damage. Now I realise how important it is to wear your hat at all times. The last 10 weeks have been very difficult, the first four weeks were mostly spent sleeping and wondering if I would ever get back to normal. The first time I was allowed to get out of bed I contemplated the situation for a while and wondered what might happen. Would I fall over or would it just be totally as it used to be? I remember the first steps I took. My feet felt like I was wearing a pair of flippers, taking very big deliberate steps. But all was well as I could walk!
At home I was unable to do any of my usual daily routine, such as checking the horses, mucking out and riding. I accepted this as it is part of the recovery process. However, I did not expect to feel the way I did - lonely, bored, frustrated and very emotional. The pain I was suffering from had a lot to do with this and the headaches were mainly unbearable unless I was asleep, which was also a struggle. I became very emotional after about a week of being back at home. I had no energy to do anything, but I did walk around to see the horses most days. This would cheer me up and also frustrate me, as I wasn’t able to do any more than change rugs or give them their feed.
Christmas, exactly a month on from the accident, came and went in a blur. It was so lovely to have all my family around and they are all so supportive of me and the effect of what had gone on. It was a strange Christmas Day. I spent most of the morning in bed away from any noise and avoiding getting in the way of Mum’s cooking!
Christmas Passed & Present We then had a walk around to the yard and put Molly out for the first
soon settled for the grass! We all had a yummy lunch and opened presents in the afternoon. Everyone has been so generous with presents and cards. It really meant a lot. An afternoon sleep then followed as I was exhausted!
Watching TV was something I really struggled with. The sound was the main problem. So if we did want to watch something, Mum had to learn how to lip read! However, it was easy enough to watch the racing without any sound and I was fortunate
happen, when can I get back riding, how long will it be until I’m back to full fitness and a normal way of life? Although I hated being emotional and crying about what felt to me to be uncontrollable, it would relieve a lot of the tension that I was feeling. I was told by my doctor and family that crying was not a weakness, but that it was my body and mind’s way of dealing with the trauma it had suffered. In the early days of feeling lonely at home, I would get frustrated with some of my friends, as it seemed to me they didn’t care. But, as I’ve improved, I have come to realise that it wasn’t because they didn’t care. In fact, it was more because they were unaware of the severity of the accident. Also some of them didn’t quite know what to say and expected me to be back to normal after a couple of weeks off, going out partying at Christmas. How I wish I could have! All of them have been great in their own way with letters, cards, texts and visits. Visits were difficult, as I wanted to see people but I couldn’t stand any noise and would get tired very quickly. But they’ve all done their best to support me.
At Home Hartpury 2011
Now that I have reduced some of the painkillers for my arm, I have more energy and am starting to feel more human rather than like a zombie. I spoke to a good friend and trainer of mine about what to do with the horses whilst I was off. He told me just what I needed to hear and not to worry about them having a longer break in the field. He said it would do them good and that the day will come when I wake up one morning and feel ready to get on.
The Helmet Christmas Morning
enough to watch the spectacular King George won by the incredible Kauto Star, what a horse!
time in 4 weeks. She had been on box rest since the accident, as she sustained puncture wounds in a hind foot and in her chest from the iron gate that she ran into in panic. So her Christmas present was to join my other horse in the field. This was quite entertaining, but they
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Another struggle was having no energy. The painkillers I was on for the head injury and the awful pain in my right arm (it later transpired, after yet more scans, I had fractured my elbow) were energy-sapping. This meant that I spent the majority of time lying in bed. However this wasn’t good as I was unable to sleep.
Everything would be running around in my mind - the accident, how did it
Back On Board This day came exactly 9 weeks after the accident. Mum lunged both horses the day before and they were very well behaved! The following day my sister was coming over to get on them both. So I put on my jodhpurs, so that
if I felt right, I would be able to get on. And I did! Molly did the honours, carrying me around for about 10 minutes. It felt so amazing to be back in the saddle. I had a very big smile on my face for the rest of the day. Unsurprisingly I found it a bit of a challenge to get to sleep, as my mind was spinning with excitement! I slept all of the following morning, as this was a really big step mentally.
My next instalment will continue with my progress, getting myself and the horses fit and my hopes and plans for this season.
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