[irideazip]

I thought he was just schooling his horse over jumps and the horse refused and he went thru it. I read what Sandra posted and it put me straight, but I still hold to personal preference, despite all of the "what if's" I am sorry for what happened to him, and it was tragic, but I hate that people started talking about how "horrible" horseback riding was after he had his accident.

[Commanderkins]

Originally Posted by Bailey-Boots

He was doing a X-Country course and the jumps are solid. Did you not read Sandras post?

I heard that he had the horse really going fast into the fence, which is not the best way to approach some X-Country jumps. You are find if its a spread, but I think the jump was an upright or a zig-zag.

ok no I did not, but I just did, and it was a small course he was jumping, and what YOU heard doensn't make it true, like his horse was going really fast. Like you THINK it was a zig zag, I honestly didn't see if it was a zig zag or a cake or an in and out, or even a water I wasn't there, were you?. It doesn' matter, now does it? He broke his neck in a freak accident, And who said he flew into a solid jump? where is that proof, did he smash his head into an actual jump? or the ground or what? His horse refused and he flew over, so I guess there would be no difference if it was a solid jump or a regular hunter/jumper obsacle. Him and his horse did not smash thru an obsacle, his horse stopped and he went over, and he ended up breaking his neck, wich I think is tradjic, but it happens, I also know somebody that this happended too, she was wearing a helmut and we were at a 3 day event and her horse stopped and she went over, and she is now a quadrapalegic, and if she wasn't wearing a helmut her head would have been smashed as well.

[Commanderkins]

Originally Posted by kashmirjumper

Flying into a solid wood jump and a "puny hunter course" are two different things entirely.

Whree does it say that he flew into a solid x-country obstacle? and he didn't. he flew over his horses neck and land on his head. not him smashing into a solid jump. Either way the jumps were it woulnd't have made a difference if he flew over his horses neck.

[Commanderkins]

Quote:

on the course when his horse, Eastern Express, apparently could not find the right spot to make the jump. The horse abruptly stopped, causing Reeve to "roll up the horse's neck and fall on his head on the other side of the jump," according to Monk Reynolds, the equestrian center's owner.


DID not Fly really fast into a solid jump, rolled over horse neck and just for people who don't know x-country, not all of the jumps are solid.

[Blistering Winds]

In May of 1995, it was during the cross-country portion of such an event in Culpeper, Virginia, that Reeve's Throughbred, Eastern Express, balked at a rail jump, pitching his rider forward. Reeve's hands were tangled in the horse's bridle and he landed head first, fracturing the uppermost vertebrae in his spine. Reeve was instantly paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe. Prompt medical attention saved his life and delicate surgery stabilized the shattered C1-C2 vertebrae and literally reattached Reeve's head to his spine.
http://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/biography.html

Injury

On May 27, 1995 Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down after being thrown from his horse, "Eastern Express," in a cross country riding in the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association finals at the Commonwealth Park equestrian center in Culpeper, Virginia. It was the second of three trial events in that equestrian competition.
Reeve had been approaching the third of 18 jumps -- a triple-bar about 3 1/2 feet high -- on the course when his horse apparently did not find the right spot to make the jump. The horse abruptly stopped, (a refusal) causing Reeve to "roll up the horse's neck and fall on his head on the other side of the jump," according to Monk Reynolds, the equestrian center's owner. After being thrown, he landed on his head. He was wearing a helmet and a protective vest at the time. Initially, he had no movement or spontaneous respiration. However, paramedics told him that he fought them off and that it was very hard to get him in the ambulance.
Reeve was considered an able rider and a proponent of equestrian safety and was about to pose for a safety poster sponsored by the U.S. Combined Training Association. He was confined to a wheelchair and unable to breathe, except for short periods, without the assistance of a mechanical respirator, for the remainder of his life.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Reeves

Reeve was injured while riding in the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association finals at the Commonwealth Park equestrian center in Culpeper. He is considered an able rider and a proponent of equestrian safety and was about to pose for a safety poster sponsored by the U.S. Combined Training Association.

While serious injuries among competitive riders are rare, USCTA statistics show that cross-country events like this one generate 72 percent of all riding injuries because they involve jumping over fixed obstacles with speed. "The sport takes a lot of balance and training, but everybody who's ridden has fallen. And people who were watching him felt that he was a good rider," says Anne Mercer, executive director of the association, a 10,000-member national equestrian group based in Leesburg.
Reeve had been approaching the third of 18 jumps -- a triple-bar about 3 1/2 feet high -- on the course when his horse, Eastern Express, apparently could not find the right spot to make the jump. The horse abruptly stopped, causing Reeve to "roll up the horse's neck and fall on his head on the other side of the jump," according to Monk Reynolds, the equestrian center's owner. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-1995Jun1.html

Hope that helps figure out the type of Jump/fall that occured.

[Commanderkins]

Now personnaly I do not think that helmuts cannot stop a neck injury but they do prevent head injuries.(although I don't wear mine all the time)

[Commanderkins]

Originally Posted by Blistering Winds

Hope that helps figure out the type of Jump/fall that occured.

It did for me, He didn't Smash into a jump, he flew over it, which is a very common mistake that green riders or unproperly trained riders make, I see it all the time at shows and stables.

[SalemsMom]

I read a article a few years ago, a man that had trained and ridden for years, went out to get his gelding that he rode all the time. The horse kicked him in the head and killed him instantly. This is a horse he always trusted. Goes to show,if your time is up ITS UP! I prefer,not to think what can happen, it will drive you crazy,and you might as well sell all your horses. I'm not saying the helmet isn't good,for the ones that want it, but everybody that puts thier foot in a stirrup,knows they are sticking thier neck and head out there, but then again,when you cross the road,who knows?

[kashmirjumper]

The fact I was trying to point out was that YOU did not have your facts right. It was NOT a hunter course and it was a 3'6" obstacle.

I never said he crashed into the fence. I was saying that there is a DIFFERENCE between a hunter course and a cross country course.

Honey, maybe it is you who should get their facts right.

[Blistering Winds]

how about we drop the "who had the facts right" issue.

what is done is done.