Spanish Olympian Morgan Barbançon Mestre injured herself in a riding accident on Monday 3 October 2016 at the Es Fangar equestrian estate in Mallorca, where she is to compete in the 4 and 5* CDI dressage event.
Morgan and her 15-year old Baden Wurttemberger bred mare Girasol (by Gribaldi x Landioso) slipped on the concrete. The mare fell on top of Morgan, spooked and then dragged the rider over the concrete floor.
"The ground is very slippery in front of the boxes and she fell on me and I had both feet stuck," Morgan told Eurodressage. "When she got up she freaked out, cantered 100 meter with me hanging down, like in the movies. I thought I was going to die yesterday. I'm so lucky that she didn't step on me or tried to kick me."
Morgan immediately received medical attention. She suffered from third degree burns on her back and sprained a finger, but fortunately she did not sustain any fracturures.
"Girasol and I are fine, I just have some bad burns and I need 3 to 4 weeks of changing bandages everyday," she explained. "I'm still under the schock because I realised that yesterday could have been the last, so I'm thankful to only have "scratches. I will try to get back in the saddle to compete this weekend during the 5* in Es Fangar!"
Related Links
Scores: 2016 CDI Mallorca
Morgan Barbançon Mestre Wins First World Cup Qualifer in Her Career at 2016 CDI-W Augustowek
Morgan Barbançon and Girasol Find Their Stride at the 2016 CDI Deauville