In a harrowing incident in Alice Springs, trainer Rene Taylor, 45, endured a severe spinal injury following a fall from a horse during a training exercise. Taylor, a mother of two teenagers, was working with an unraced three-year-old gelding named Midnight Hustle along the Todd River behind the Pioneer Park racecourse when the accident occurred.
According to Taylor, the fall wasn’t dramatic, yet the impact caused her spine to compress significantly. She immediately realized the gravity of her injury, citing extreme pain and an inability to stand up. Fellow trainers, jockeys, and stable-hands commenced a search upon noticing the riderless horse, Midnight Hustle, wandering near the stables. Taylor was found about 10-15 minutes later, prompting an urgent call for an ambulance.
Taylor recounted being located by Josh Gardner, another trainer’s son, and mentioned the swift medical response following the accident. Post-accident examinations at Alice Springs Hospital necessitated her urgent transfer to Adelaide. There, she underwent surgery at the Royal Adelaide Hospital that involved the insertion of screws and rods into her vertebrae to stabilize the spine.
The surgery led to an arduous recovery process, including immediate post-operative therapy encouraging standing and walking within a short time frame. Taylor’s rehabilitation has enabled her to walk, albeit with discomfort during certain movements such as leaning or bending over.
Source: Horse Betting