My Injury

On Wednesday I was trying to fit the "secret" colt with a show halter. I don't know if I've mentioned before this colt is really, really naughty about having his poll touched. I've never seen a horse quite so territorial about his poll before and I've known for a while there would probably be problems putting a show halter on this horse.

With all the issues the horse arrived here with, this thing with his poll was just another thing on the list. As the other things have fallen away as he's learned what's expected of him here, this one issue has resisted all efforts to get it under control.

I've trained the horse to stand up for showing in halter with a schooling halter. You'd think since it slips over the ears like a bridle(only not as restricted as a bridle would be) that a show halter would not be a problem. But show halters are finer AND they are usually buckled right at the poll. I knew the colt would not tolerate working right over his poll for this.

I tried a couple of different ways to put the show halter on this horse. First I tried slipping it over his ears just like the schooling halter goes. The show halter is just not as flexible as the schooling halter and it just wouldn't give sufficiently.

Then I tried pulling the open halter further down the horse's neck and fastening it there. That worked OK but the halter was too big with the noseband hitting over an inch under the horse's tearbone.

It's when I tried the smaller halter that I got into trouble. It wouldn't go far enough down the horse's neck to reach a spot he was comfortable having me mess with getting it buckled. The darn colt wheeled around away from me knocking me off balance. As he completed his 180° turn he slammed the side of his head right smack dab in the middle of my face..........breaking my nose.

I heard the awful crack as the horse connected with my face. The stars began to swirl as blood gushed from my nose. I did the best I could to get myself out of that stall, secure the door and get myself into the house. All the time the stars continued to swirl and then even my stomach began to turn.

By the time I reached the house, I needed to get to a chair. Luckily Lindsay was in the house and was able to get me an ice pack, something for my gushing nose.................and drugs..........my head was beginning to pound.......and pound it has for three days.

I spent most of the first day just sitting in a chair. The ice pack became my best friend as it seemed to be the only thing that eased the throbbing pain at all. Normally, the cold and I just do NOT get along.........but in this instance I have come to appreciate how it helped me to get through.

It was several hours before I could even walk without my nose beginning to bleed again. I could feel the blood running down my throat if I even shifted my position in my chair. Having broken my nose before, I can say this is the hardest I have ever been hit.

The surprising thing is the ice really did great things for the swelling. While I do have some discoloration across my nose and underneath my eyes, it is nowhere near what one would expect. However, the headache I have totally makes up for the lack of bruising. Spreading my hand over the center of my face, that entire area still throbs 60 hours later.

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