Well on 7/16 fell and fractured my patella (knee cap) on left leg.  Had surgery last week - has anyone on here done this and how long was it before you are back riding and competing again?

I am okay with letting my 7yr old who has been running since she was 4 for a few months but not sure what I should do with my 4yr old who is on track to be entered at the end of November. Wondering should I just let him sit for a few months and as I can get out there get him back in the round pen or see if I can send him off somewhere?

Have never had this type of situation before so any suggestions at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I'd send him off.  Similar thing happened to me last year.  

How long till you were riding them again

My sympathies. I fractured a knee cap years ago -- did not require surgery, thankfully, but I was on crutches for six weeks and wrapped up.  This accident (a friend's horse cow kicked me!) occurred a few weeks prior to my senior year of college.  I had problems riding afterwards -- had lots of pain in my knee and weakness. I made one college rodeo that Fall and gave it up -- just turned toward working and college classes. It took about a year before I could ride without pain and had full strength.  Good luck to you!  Take care of yourself. I pushed too hard to get back to riding and paid for it long-term. To this day (I am 64 now.) I have issues with that knee.  You only get once chance to heal properly. 

Thank you - I just turned 57 but hoping that being in shape that I am prior to this and riding 2 horses all the time that it will help.

Dr. said surgery was successful - just have to not get myself in a pity party, did that the other night and then found out that one of

my coworkers spouse has a brain tumor so I am minor compart to what they are going thru.

One day at a time.

There's always someone worse off than we are, but I believe we are all entitled to at least a moment of taking in our own situations. . . Been there, done that.   Sending up a prayer that things heal quickly and with no residual issues

How long does your doctor have you immobilized?

I would say it has more to do with movement once you are allowed to begin working on your bend. Personally I would at least need 90* bend before riding. Strength will also play a large part. You lose strength very fast after an injury and it is slow to come back.  

Good luck! I'm a physical therapist, my main advice is to try to be patient. It is going to stink, but you will get there!!!

Do you already have futurity entry money paid in? Or were you just planning on starting to enter then?   If you have your guy entered in futurities, he needs the seasoning now- so you probably need to have somone one him if you have someone you trust / can ride after.  If you don't have money in the game, and you dodn't mind him being a little behind, then letting him sit for a while sure isn't going to hurt him in the long run.

I am not sure how long to be immobilized - going this Friday to the dr for the stitches to come out after surgery - and I think they are going

to be putting me in a brace that I can bend 5 degrees in he said