16 year old in coma after horse trips in arena by KarenWhen my sister was 16 she was riding a Thoroughbred we were considering purchasing in our arena. As she was cantering a figure 8 the horse suddenly tripped and went down on his side slamming the side of her head into the ground. The ambulance was called and she was transported to the hospital. She was in a deep coma with little hope of ever regaining consciousness. Her skull had been cracked across the back and her brain was swelling. The surgeon said if she did wake up there was a good chance she would be brain damaged for life. Thankfully after almost two weeks she began to regain consciousness and she did eventually recover. The doctor said if she had been wearing a helmet she would not have been seriously injured.