HORSE RACING-Husbands eager to return to the saddle after training incident sidelines him

ETOBICOKE, Ontario, CMC – Established Barbadian jockey Christopher Husbands is counting his lucky stars and wondering when he can ride again.

The 35-year-old was severely injured when a horse flipped over on him during a training incident on July 9 at the nearby Woodbine racetrack.

“I got almost to the tunnel coming off the track, and I remember there was a set of horses breezing past, maybe working five-eighths or something like that, and it set him off,” Husbands said about the two-year-old he was riding.

“He reared up first, and then he went back down, so I thought it was all over – but then the second time, it happened fast, and he just flipped over on me.”

The husband was transported to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and underwent surgery on July 13 for extensive injuries sustained during that incident.

“I fractured my spine in two places and my pelvis in several different places,” he said. “My pelvis – they put a plate in and six screws, and they stabilized the front enough that they didn’t have to worry with the back [of the pelvis].”

Husbands started physical therapy two days later – first with a walker and then quickly changing over to crutches, and he will need to keep weight off his right side for the next six weeks.

Throughout his career, he has also suffered his fair share of injuries, from being in a coma, suffering a broken hand, broken ribs, and broken shoulders.

But Husbands knows that he will not return to the saddle soon because recovery will be a hard, long road – but he remains hopeful that he could return to the galloping horse by the end of the year.

“It isn’t looking like I’m going to be riding this summer,” he said. “…but I’m going to be OK.”

For now, his partner and Canadian female rider, Amanda Vandermeersch, a nurse before taking to the irons, has helped to keep him in a good mood.

“Amanda has taken care of me well,” Husbands said. “From day one, when I was here, she was by my side, and I can’t thank her enough. She ensured I was always comfortable and brought me blankets from home.”

After making a name for himself on the western Canada racing circuit, Husbands moved his tack to Ontario nine years ago. Over the past three seasons, he has ridden 645 winners, won a handful of stakes races, and secured the riding title at Fort Erie.