This is the frightening moment a woman suffered life-changing injuries when a horse she was riding became spooked and fell on top of her in a pond.
Kelly Sword, 21, was riding her grandmother’s horse Izzy when the 1,100lbs animal “flipped out”, pushing its rider beneath the water of a shallow pond.
College student Kelly said she feared for her life when her foot became trapped in the stirrup, and she found herself beneath the belly of the adult horse.
Kelly, of Groveland, Florida, USA, said she believes her horse was “spooked” by a light below the water’s surface.
Business and accounting student Kelly said: “She was really chill and then just started flipping out.
“It all happened so fast and my foot was trapped in the stirrup. I remember hitting the water and thinking, ‘This horse is going to fall on me.’
“I don’t know how I survived because I was under the water, under her belly. I was under for less than a minute.”
Kelly was rushed to hospital following the June 2 accident, which took place in a pond on property owned by her grandmother Diane Mills, 65, in Groveland.
She said she feels lucky to have survived but tore her anterior cruciate ligament and fractured her tibia, which required surgery in July.
The frightening footage was captured by Kelly’s brother Cody Schuler, 22, who was filming Kelly, her mother Sonya Sword, 44, and stepdad Nathan Jenkins, 36, on the ride.
“I didn’t feel pain in that moment, but afterwards I was in extraordinary pain,” she said.
“I tore my ACL and I broke my tibia. Doctors aren’t sure I’ll ever have full mobility in my leg again but I’m taking small steps.
“I’m exercising on the treadmill and trying to do my physical therapy at home.”
Kelly said watching the clip takes her back to the frightening moment during which she believed it was “all over”.
“When I watch that video it brings me right back to that scary moment when I thought I was going to die. I thought it was the end.”
