Jessica and “Tucker” before their jumping lesson
Jessica Phoenix and Exponential are Canada’s best jumpers and one of the best jumping pairs in the world, but their journey to the London Olympics suffered a setback Wednesday morning when they fell at an oxer while jump schooling at Bromont. All signs following the accident pointed to a broken left collar bone for Jessica and she is being taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Canadian coach David O’Connor asked Jessica to push for a deeper spot in a 6 stride right turning (oxer to oxer) line and Exponential arrived at five and a half strides, leaving long, catching his legs in the fence, and sliding onto his side. Jessica and Exponential “Tucker” both got up quickly but both were visibly shaken. Tucker was a bit off in the walk, which we hope is just a bit of soreness from the fall. He walked back to the barns for examination from Canadian Team vet Dr. Christiana Ober. The most important and good news is that Jessica and Tucker walked away from the fall.
The pair was having a great lesson up until that point and the fall was just one of those moments in eventing when things are fine one moment and then a second later you are laying on the ground. Jessica was her usual classy, tough, and composed self after the tumble. The broken collar bone has by no means been 100% confirmed by a doctor and here’s to hopes that initial signs of a broken collar bone are wrong and Jessica can be back to jump school Pavarotti this afternoon. The Olympics are still six seven weeks away, which is enough time to come back from a broken collar bone, especially for someone as tough as Jessica, so the major concern in the Olympic picture today is just making sure that Tucker is fine. We will have much more from Bromont including more from the Canadian jump schools this morning and any updates on Jess and Tucker as we get them. Go Jessica and Tucker.
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12:55pm Update: I spoke briefly with David who told me that initial indications are that Exponential just strained a muscle. He told me that there are no indications of structural damage. Tucker is resting comfortably in his stall. Still no word from the hospital regarding Jessica’s collar bone.
3:38pm Update: We have received word that Jessica’s collar bone has been confirmed broken. Fortunaley there are still seven weeks until the jog at the Olympics, giving her more than enough time to heal and early indications are that this will not affect her selection.
