Hannah Sue Burnett Recovering from Broken Wrist at Plantation Field

Hannah Sue Burnett and Jitter Bug watch CIC2* show jumping with Jennie Brannigan at Plantation Field on Saturday. Photo by Jenni Autry. Hannah Sue Burnett and Jitter Bug watch CIC2* show jumping with Jennie Brannigan at Plantation Field on Saturday. Photo by Jenni Autry.

Hannah Sue Burnett confirmed to EN that she broke the radius bone in her left wrist in her fall with Jitter Bug at fence 15, a ditch and brush, on the CIC2* cross country course at Plantation Field International Horse Trials yesterday. It seemed like the 9-year-old Rheinlander mare owned by Jacqueline Mars and Sherry Nemmers didn’t read the question quite right, and they both fell on the landing side of the fence.

Jitter Bug is totally fine and was up right away after the fall, while Hannah was transported by ambulance to nearby Christiana Hospital for treatment. Hannah was discharged from the hospital last night and is back home in Middleburg this morning, as is Jitter Bug, who is resting comfortably in her field.

Hannah is also recovering from bruised ribs, which she said are hurting a lot more this morning than the broken wrist! She has an appointment scheduled with an orthopedic surgeon early this week to determine whether she will need surgery; doctors are optimistic at this point that she will not need to undergo an operation.

Hannah wanted to thank her vet Dr. Jill Copenhagen for checking over Jitter Bug; groom Lindsey Taylor, who was by her side within minutes of the fall; her mom Sue, affectionally known as Smallzie; grooms Kristin Stammer and Sara McKenna, who are holding down the fort at home; and everyone who texted and called and visited her in the hospital.

Buck Davidson and Laine Ashker came into the ambulance with her to offer moral support, and a whole swarm of volunteers and riders — led by Sally Cousins — were with her immediately after the fall to make sure she was OK. It’s times like this that remind us how lucky we are as eventers to have such an amazing support system around us.

As to what this broken wrist means for the rest of her season, Hannah said she’s not ruling out competing at the Dutta Corp Fair Hill International next month just yet. We’re wishing Hannah all the best for a speedy recovery so she can get back in the saddle soon.