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Girl only able to communicate with parents by blinking following freak horse riding accident

The parents of a 10-year-old girl, who was thrown off her horse in a freak riding accident, fear the active youngster may never walk again, or be able to do the things she loves.

Abbie Sweeper was participating in the Laidley and District Pony Club Gymkhana, in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley, when she fell off her horse and hit the ground head first.

The youngster was expecting her horse to turn one way, but when it went in the opposite direction she was sent flying.

An experienced horserider, Abbie Sweeper has been participating in pony events for years. Source: GoFundme
An experienced horserider, Abbie Sweeper, 10, has been participating in pony events for years. Source: GoFundme

“It wasn’t a fast fall, but because she was loose in the saddle she came off and hit her head and suffered spinal cord damage and torn ligaments,” close family friend Tiffany Stubbs told Yahoo News Australia on Wednesday.

If she had landed a different way, she may have just came away with a broken wrist, Ms Stubbs said.

Abbie’s parents Amanda, 41, and Russell Sweeper, 48, witnessed the tragedy unfold, with other children in Abbie’s age category also watching the motionless little girl on the ground while paramedics worked on her.

She was airlifted to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, where she has been in intensive care since.

A long road to recovery ahead

Abbie Sweeper opens her eyes at the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, where she has been in and out of an induced coma for two weeks. Source: Facebook
Abbie Sweeper opens her eyes at the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, where she has been in and out of an induced coma for two weeks. Source: Facebook

“She’s out of the critical stage and she’s going to live. But she will be in ICU for the next six months receiving around-the-clock care,” Ms Stubbs said.

Abbie has been in an induced coma since the July 14 accident, but at times has been given reduced amounts of sedation to test her responses. Currently she has only been able to communicate by blinking, but she has been receiving physio and speech therapy to assist her recovery.

“It will be months until we know if she can move and breathe on her own,” Ms Stubbs said.

She said the heartbreaking accident was not down to inexperience, as Abbie had been riding horses since she could walk, with her mother being a horse breeder.

Abbie Sweeper was participating in a pony club event on July 14 when she fell off her horse and suffered severe spinal cord injuries. Source: Facebook
Abbie Sweeper was participating in a pony club event on July 14 when she fell off her horse and suffered severe spinal cord injuries. Source: Facebook

‘Active child’ might never do the things she loves again

Abbie was described as a “happy, bold, determined child,” who loves horses and Disney.

Her parents have been playing her favourite Disney soundtracks while she lays unresponsive in hospital. They are devastated, fearing their energetic daughter’s quality of life may never be the same.

“She’s such an active child. She’s not the type of child that sits around on the couch and watches TV,” Ms Stubbs said.

“She may never potentially be able to do the things she loves, like ride horses and ride bikes, and that’s the most heartbreaking thing [for her parents]. They know this is a long journey... It’s just a matter of time and waiting.”

A huge Disney fan, Abbie visited Disneyland with her mum Amanda, who hopes the pair can go back one day. Source: GoFundme / Facebook
A huge Disney fan, Abbie visited Disneyland with her mum Amanda, who hopes the pair can go back one day. Source: GoFundme / Facebook

“A week ago Abbie was competing at the State Dressage and riding her bike all over the Maryborough Showgrounds,” her mum wrote on a Facebook page she set up to share updates on Abbie’s progress.

“Hug your kids. Life is precious,” she added.

For now, Mr and Mrs Sweeper are holding on tightly to every sign of improvement as they embark on a long road to recovery. They are remaining hopeful they might someday take her back to Disneyland if she becomes well enough.

Ms Stubbs has set up a GoFundMe page to help the family raise funds towards Abbie’s long recovery and to help with day-to-day expenses once her parents run out of paid leave.

The tragedy has moved the horsing community across Australia, who have banded together to help the family host fundraising events in Abbie’s honour and wear her favourite colour green in support.

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