Bubby Upton and Magic Roundabout IV. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
While most of the eyes that have been fixed on Burghley over the last few days will have found plenty to occupy them, with the reveal of the 2023 course and the release of the drawn order of go both popping up in that span of time, those with an eagle eye on the entry list will have spotted something else of significance. That was the withdrawal of 24-year-old Bubby Upton, who had two entries in Cola, with whom she finished fourteenth at the event last year, and Magic Roundabout IV, her Bramham under-25s CCI4*-L winner of this year.
“Five days ago I sadly had an accident riding on the flat leading to a complete burst fracture of L3 and a horizontal fracture of L2, which required [six hours of] surgery to stabilise the spine, decompress the vertebrae and fuse L3,” writes Bubby in a statement on her social media profiles. I simply cannot thank my surgeon and the whole NHS team enough for working absolute wonders.”
“I think it goes without saying that I am totally distraught for my team, owners, horses and sponsors about missing Burghley 5* when both Cola and Magic were on such flying form. But to be quite honest, considering the severity of the break I am just feeling unbelievably lucky that someone above was looking out for me, as the outcome could have been very different. There is now a very long road to recovery ahead of me, but I will give it my all to get fighting fit again.”
Bubby, who has previously held the British under-18, under-21, and under-25 national titles, is no stranger to sensible rehabilitation: two years ago, she had a fall while cross-country schooling with a young horse, which ultimately resulted in eight fractured vertebrae and a broken collarbone. She teamed up with the Injured Jockeys Fund therapy centre in Newmarket, close to her home base in Suffolk, to undertake an extensive rehab plan that involved hydrotherapy.
A burst fracture, which Bubby sustained on her L3 vertebrae, is a complete and complex break: it’s a full crushing of the vertebrae from all directions, and as a result, is a high-risk break if not immediately stabilised because of the probability of bone interference with the spinal cord. When such a break occurs in the lumbar spine — the lower half of the back — as Bubby’s did, it can have major ramifications on lower-limb mobility.
Bubby, it would appear, is a very lucky lady indeed – and we already knew she was a particularly determined one, balancing, as she did, her university studies with professional eventing over the last number of years. We have no doubt she’ll take her rehabilitation to come every bit as seriously, and we look forward to seeing her return to the saddle (and, hopefully, she’ll get a dryer and rather more fun season when she does return!). From EN to you, Bubby – we wish you a speedy, straightforward recovery.
