Exhibitor Injured in Horse Accident at 2013 AjPHA Youth World Show is Out of Surgery and in High Spirits

Amidst the buckles and ribbons, the world titles and win photos, it’s easy to forget that this sport we all love so much can be a dangerous one. That realization became painfully clear for Rachel Valdiviez last night during her daughter Lindsey’s showmanship practice at the 2013 AjPHA Youth World Show.

“I know exactly what time it happened, because I remember that I called 911 at 9:50,” Valdiviez says. “She was just doing some turns at the trot. It was at the end of the day, and the ground was getting lumpy. She must have hit a hole or something, and she fell down. It looked like her horse just jumped sideways, so I didn’t even notice that he’d made contact with her face. Sara went over to lift her up and she turned white and said to call a paramedic. She just fell at the wrong spot at the wrong time.”

“It tore her lip from the corner of her mouth. The surgeon said the top part of her lip was torn up and down on the inside too. She had 13 centimeters worth of stitches to repair the top, the bottom, and her chin. It tore through the muscle. I couldn’t look at it. It was so hard because I felt so bad, but I didn’t want her to see my face. It’s hard when it’s your own kid.”

Thankfully, Lindsey came out of surgery at about 1:00 this afternoon and is in high spirits. She was very glad to see all of her barnmates and friends who came to visit her at the hospital.

“I know it means a lot to Lindsey that everyone is concerned about her,” she says. “The surgeon said the repair of her lip went well. She was fortunate not to lose any teeth, but has several that are chipped off and a few that are loose. Unfortunately, getting an oral surgeon over the holiday to do the repair would be next to impossible. It’s looking like we will have to wait until we get back home to take care of that. That’s one of the more upsetting things for her.”

“She will be here at Harris Methodist until tomorrow sometime. She would like to come by the show tomorrow, but we’ll just play it by ear as to whether she feels up to it. Sara, Jana and Andrea have been so incredible and have loved on her through this like she was one of their own.”

Prior to the accident, Lindsey had already competed in 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle and was preparing for the Novice Youth 14-18 Showmanship and 14-18 Showmanship today. Those were the only classes Lindsey planned to compete in, however, she hopes to return to the horse show to watch her friends compete and to visit her horse.

Now that the anesthesia has worn off a bit Lindsey wanted to speak with us and have us relay a message to her friends.

“Some of my friends came and stayed for a long time, even though they had to get up at 5 for western pleasure practice,” Lindsey says. “It was really nice of them. They stayed for a long time, and everyone came to visit me today.”

 

“I’m feeling a lot better. I’m not really in pain. They gave me some morphine when I first got here so a lot of the pain went away. It really wasn’t that painful. The most painful part were the IVs and drawing blood.”

“I really want to see my horse and see everyone else. I want to watch the show.”

We are so thankful that Lindsey’s surgery was a success and would like to wish her a speedy recovery. We know we will be seeing her back in the show pen in no time.