Hit a barrel a couple of weeks ago. The bruise is pretty well subsided, but when I ride that knee hurts. What did I do to it? It seems okay the rest of the time, so am hesitant to go to clinic as I don't know how to explain it, LOL. 

Not to be rude, but we can't diagnose you over the internet!

If you are concerned about it, get yourself to the clinic. How hard did you hit it? Maybe a bone bruise, maybe a small bone fracture -- could be any number of things.

I hit one on the rim straight across the knee cap a few weeks ago. Still has a black bruise line across the cap and now is colored nicely on the whole knee. It's also numb to the touch. Figuring it isn't good, but it isn't arguing about any motion in particular except some of my floor exercises (bird dog). 

If it is actually above a 2-3-4 on your pain scale go see a doc. If it's in that range I usually treat with ice and human surpass and go about my normal activities. 

Fractured my knee cap years ago by hitting a barrel once..   if it's bothering you that bad I would go have it checked out.

I went 5 months with a broken wrist.  It wasn’t crippling, but  I don’t recommend it.

Go get it looked at.  I could just be a deep bruise, or it could be something worse.

I think I would know if it was broken, LOL...it does not hurt the rest of the time, LOL. And my trainer broke her knee cap (on a different horse) and I understand the pain is pretty unbearable. Its like a nice deep ache in my knee when I ride, which I never expected after hitting a barrel. If it doesn't get better or gets worse, I'll get it checked out, thought maybe someone else had this happen. 

It's probably just a deep bruise. I guess a possible hair line fracture or something.

After I had my knee scoped my knee was really tender, when I started riding, way earlier than I was released to, I wore a back on track knee brace. It made everything feel much better. As soon as I would take it off I'd stiffen up. For runs I wore volleyball knee pads under my jeans. thankfully I never tested them out, but they were comfortable and stayed in place.