Four-star eventer Buck Davidson shattered his collarbone in a fall on Feb. 16. Davidson was schooling a horse in Ocala, Fla., when the accident occurred, as was first reported by Eventing Nation.

“[The horse] reared up, and then it hit me in the face,” said Davidson. “I’m not sure exactly what happened, but it smacked me in the face somehow, and I think it wheeled around and then dropped me right on my shoulder. I heard the bone break. I went to the hospital and said, ‘Look, I know it’s broken. Stop poking around in there.’

“They always say six to eight weeks before you can ride again, but hopefully I can get on in a couple of weeks,” Davidson continued. “I’ve been fortunate to be a fairly fast healer. There are way worse things going on in the world than me breaking my collarbone. It hurts, and it’s a bummer, but in the big picture it’s not a big deal. I’m in good hands. There’s a great group of people at my barn right now.”

Scheduled for surgery next week with U.S. Equestrian Team physician, Dr. Craig Ferrell, Davidson is coaching at the Rocking Horse Winter II Horse Trials (Fla.) this weekend. His father, Bruce Davidson, took over the ride on Sherrie Martin’s The Apprentice for an advanced division at Rocking Horse, and girlfriend and advanced-level rider Andrea Leatherman is riding another advanced mount, Carl and Cassandra Segal’s Park Trader.

“Andrea’s just doing the dressage. I couldn’t convince her to do the cross-country,” said Buck. “She did a good test with him earlier today. I have a million students here, so I’m watching everybody and laying low. I’m fortunate that I have some very nice people who have offered their services, and they’re all probably far better riders than I am. My horses will be better trained than they are right now.” 

Buck is currently planning to ride two of his horses at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****—Sharon Will’s Absolute Liberty and his own Titanium—and doesn’t think his accident will impact those plans.

“The two that are supposed to go to Rolex, of all the horses, they’re the easiest. They don’t pull or anything,” he said.

Ballynoe Castle RM, Buck’s mount at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Ky.), is being aimed for the Jersey Fresh CCI*** (N.J.) in May.

“I’m very lucky that, out of all my horses, the only horse not qualified for a spring CCI is The Apprentice, but my dad’s riding him, and he’s just 8. [Ballynoe Castle RM] had wind surgery this winter, and he’s just been back in work for a month. He’s supposed to go in a preliminary in two weeks, so I’m taking offers, and the highest bidder gets to ride him,” joked Buck. “But really, that comes down to the Segals, whoever they want. I thought Kentucky would be pushing it for him. It’ll still be pushing it to get to Jersey, and he has to prove he can go that far. If he’s not ready then he’s not ready, and he won’t go.”