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 **TRIGGER WARNING **** BAD FALL**
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 On the final day of the Mount Isa Rodeo, during my final performance, I had only two tricks left to go. I was riding my golden girl Macey Mae performing the Superman, a trick I’ve performed countless times over my 10 years of trick riding and one of my absolute favourites. As we hit the corner, somehow my hand slipped from the saddle horn. To this day I’m still not exactly sure why or how my hand slipped. Whether my new long sleeved costume had an interference with my hand and the horn, or whether it was the change in saddles from the first two days I performed this trick, I honestly don’t know. It was a freak accident that I never could have imagined happening. Because we perform attached to the saddle in straps, there is always that added risk with trick riding. When I lost my grip, I became caught up and was dragged around half of the arena until some incredible cowboys jumped in front of Macey and my foot eventually came free at the same time.I am extremely proud of how Macey handled the situation. She isn’t the type of horse that would simply stop if I came off but she never reared, spun, panicked or ran me into the fence. She continued running our normal trick pattern just as she has been trained to do with our drag tricks. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
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 Unfortunately, my head suffered multiple impacts and I sustained a laceration that required staples, as well as stitches to my lip &amp; chin. My arm and knee took the worst of it and was severely dragged and traumatised. But somehow… not one broken bone. Since the accident, we’ve now found out the full extent of the damage and unfortunately it’s a little more serious than I had hoped. I’ve recently seen a surgeon and I’ve torn several tendons and got a few hematoma’s in my arm. I still don’t have full range of motion back in it and to give me the best chance of regaining full movement and function in my arm, I need to see and have 3 months of physio to repair the damaged tendons and muscle. Unfortunately, my knee also suffered significant damage. I have a complete ACL tear, tears to both my medial and lateral menisci, and a Grade 2 MCL injury. My knee will require surgery which I’m going in for this Thursday, with the full recovery potentially taking up to 11-12 months before I can safely return to dragging off/ hanging from my knee. It’s definitely not the news I wanted to hear but I know just how lucky I am to still be here today, let alone to have walked away without a single broken bone.
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 I’m so sorry to the rodeos and shows that I’ve had to pull out of because of this accident. As much as I hate letting anyone down, right now I have to put my body and recovery first so I can continue doing what I love as a career and come back bigger, stronger and better in 2027.
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 With the reality that I could now be out of work for the next 9+ months, I’ve made the difficult decision to start a GoFundMe page. Trick riding and performing isn’t just something I love, it’s my career, passion and my main source of income. Being unable to perform for potentially nine months on top of the costs associated with surgery, physio appointments , rehabilitation and recovery is going to make the next several months incredibly difficult financially. I never imagined I’d be in a position where I would need to ask for help like this but if anyone would like to donate towards my surgery and recovery, I would be unbelievably grateful. Absolute no pressure at all to donate, even sharing the GoFundMe would mean the world to me. Every donation, share and message of support genuinely helps.
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 I know a lot of people would probably recommend that I don’t share something like this on social media because of how it could be perceived within my career, but I just don’t see it that way.
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 We all fall. We all have accidents. This accident doesn’t define me or my ability as a trick rider, and it certainly doesn’t erase everything I’ve achieved over the last 10 years. This is me, this is part of my journey and I want to be authentic and true to myself by sharing the highs and the lows. If anything, this experience has reminded me just how quickly things can change and how grateful I am to still be here.
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 The BIGGEST Thank you to every single person who checked in on me after the fall, sent me a message, called, commented or simply reached out to see if I was okay. I may not have been able to reply to everyone but I saw and appreciated every single one of you. The amount of love and support I’ve received has meant more than you know. An especially huge thank you to everyone at the Mount Isa Rodeo who looked after us following the accident, especially Dianna &amp; Annie, Tommo &amp; Kate, Arron &amp; Jane Ally &amp; Todd. You went above and beyond to make sure we were okay and had absolutely everything we needed. We truly love you guys, and I already can’t wait to be back with you in 2027. ❤️
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 And thank you to Di, everyone from Mt Isa Rodeo and the Mayor of Mount Isa for the beautiful flowers. I’ve honestly never felt so much love and support.
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 The horses are all home, happy and enjoying a very well earned break in the paddock while I recover. Most importantly, Macey is completely fine, not even a scratch on her
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 I’ve spent a lot of time since the accident asking myself why this had to happen. I’ve always been a strong believer that everything happens for a reason but I’m slowly learning to accept that sometimes accidents simply happen. People fall from horses and get hurt every day, being a trick rider just comes with that extra level of risk when we attach ourselves to the outside of a saddle. In my 10 years of trick riding I’ve had 2 major falls and I count myself pretty lucky as it’s not if, it’s just a matter of when, especially when we do these sports and work with animals. Never in a million years did I think something like this would happen to me, I’ve had a great year performing at some of the best shows and rodeos in Australia, this year along has been my biggest and best year I’m so proud of my horses and everything we have achieved! This might be a setback but it sure isn’t going to stop me.
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 I’ll have the surgery
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 I’ll do the rehab.
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 I’ll recover.
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 I’ll get stronger.
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 And when the time is right, I’ll get back on and redeem myself.
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 Just you watch.
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 Here’s to a bigger, better, stronger 2027!!!
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Help Dayna Get Back in the Saddle After a Devastating Fall

Help Dayna Get Back in the Saddle After a Devastating Fall

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