Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum & Comanche competed successfully at the Palm Beach Masters on Friday, February 4, 2017.
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum suffered two broken ribs, but no other injuries when she parted ways from her horse at the final fence of the $216,000 Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Wellington CSI3*-W at the Palm Beach Masters in Wellington, Florida, USA on Sunday, February 6, 2017.
The rider who represents Germany was aboard Comanche, an 11-year-old OS gelding (Coupe de Coeur x Baloubet du Rouet) and was clear until the final fence. The striding from the penultimate obsctacle—a triple combination— rode in a long seven or a holding eight strides to the final fence, the Longines FEI World Cup oxer.
Comanche came down on top of the oxer and stumbled upon landing, finally sliding to the ground on his belly. Michaels-Beerbaum was thrown out of the saddle over the horse’s inside shoulder, landing headfirst and hard. She was immediately attended to by medical personnel and her team, and was able to walk with assistance to an on-field ambulance. She was transported immediately to hospital for examination and treatment.
Comanche was uninjured and was reported to be doing well, a statement released by Michaels-Beerbaum’s team reported today. The rider will be out of the saddle for at lest several weeks while she recovers from her injury. She and her family are based in Wellington, Florida for the winter competition season.