When I was 15, I was riding my QH in our barn’s outdoor ring. We were cantering, and Buddy must have caught his hoof in a divot because he flipped completely over and I went flying – my grandmother said I landed on my head, bounced, and landed on my face! Buddy was completely fine, but I was taken to the hospital, where I had to have stitches in my chin, and sprained both an ankle and a wrist. I don’t remember really any of that, as I also had one of the worst concussions the ER doc had seen! I couldn’t tell you what year it was for 2 days! If I hadn’t been wearing my helmet, I most certainly would not be here today – human heads are not made to be landed upon. It’s been 18 years since that fall and I have never once even sat on a horse without my helmet.

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