Ridecamp: [RC] Helmets and injuries

With the price of Troxels out here in South Africa we have a standing joke
amongst our group of riders- when you fall off you NEVER hit your head- and
the first thing you do is take off your Troxel and check if it is ok!! 

As for my accident here it is- may you all learn! Went to feed my horses 5
am on winter morning- went in to stable, fed old mare(21 , partially blind
and deaf) - another loose mare tried to push into stable, and the old lady
started kicking at her.First kick(double barrelled) hit me in face and head,
I fell into corner at door, next 4 or 5 kicks hit me on back,hips and ribs.
Screaming at horse- she couldn't hear me, only thought "I am going to die if
I stay here!". Managed to crawl out door , stood up and tottered the 200 m
to house. Whispered husband's name and he nearly fainted when he saw me-
split lip, chipped tooth, bleeding nose and extremely black eyes already.
Long story turned short- I was unemployed, no medical insurance so a week in
our biggest Government hospital- if you have ever been to a third world
country- that's our State hospitals - ever stood in a queue for 4 hours to
be admitted? no baths, food eaten by hand, walk yourself to operating
theatre, been the only white face in a hospital of 3000 patients? The
Maxillo-Facial operating skills were the best- these guys think a few broken
bones in a face(eye orbit, jaw bone and bridge of nose) is a picnic compared
to stab wounds, beatings, car accidents, bullet wounds etc.The patients ALL
knew me- the lady whose horse kicked her- I was the mascot and joke to all.
Right side of face still a bit "dead" feeling - but I am the only one who
can see anything . This was last July- in March this year my horse tripped
and fell at a competition and managed to land on me- left side of face
black- and left leg slightly squashed- had to even out the damage! - another
trip to State hospital(I have insurance now- but the only available medical
care was the local State hospital)- Great care-except from nurses who said
they couldn't understand why people rode horses they clearly couldn't
handle!!!! I am collecting the little blue cards they give you at these
hospitals- will one day frame them!!!!!

Regards,
Cindy Budler
Tel : 011 876 1179
Cell : 0824641809
E Mail : cindy.budler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx



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