Rider makes a lucky escape

By Bridget Brady
A BERWICK woman was lucky to escape serious injury last week after a 450kg horse crushed her at Devon Meadows.
Robyn Orrlov, 34, was riding a young horse in a sand roll at the stables at Devon Meadows last Thursday about 7am when the accident happened.
The horse got a fright when the gates to the sand roll opened. It reared and fell backwards onto Ms Orrlov.
“I stopped to let someone get out of the gate and she (the horse) got a scare and reared up and went over backwards and jammed me bet-ween the wall then landed on top of me,” Ms Orrlov said.
“I heard everything crunch.”
Ms Orrlov managed to stand but passed out a short time later.
Staff at the Craig Road stables called the ambulance and Ms Orrlov was taken to Dandenong Hospital where she stayed overnight.
She has a broken top rib, bad bruising and swelling, and a sore back, but said she was lucky her injuries were not more severe.
“All the air was squashed out of me and when you spend eight hours on your back with a neck collar on you freak out. I feel like a terrible wuss now. I reckon I’m lucky.”
Ms Orrlov has worked with horses for about 20 years.
She said the accident was a part of working in the industry.
“It goes to show accidents just happen. It’s not an industry that you can make 100 per cent safe.
This is the worst accident I have had on a horse, but people get hurt everyday in the industry.”
Ms Orrlov said she didn’t know the two-year-old horse very well because it was its first ride since coming back from a spell in the paddock.
“We were reasonably careful and had her in the saddle for more than 40 minutes beforehand. She just got a fright.
“I don’t think I would have done anything differently in hindsight.”
Paramedics arrived at the stables nine minutes after they were called and Ms Orrlov said they did a great job at calming her.
“I’m very thankful for the care I received.
“I was so glad when the ambulance arrived…you just know everything is going to be alright.”