MELBOURNE CUP-WINNING jockey Michelle Payne has revealed the shocking injuries she suffered after being kicked in the face by a horse.
Iconic Australian rider Payne saw her leg balloon to ‘twice its size’ after being struck twice – and had blood pouring out of her chin.
Although on the mend, doctors have warned her of possible ‘dangerous’ complications down the line.
There is a threat that the massive swelling and bruising in her thigh could lead to Compartment syndrome.
Fellow jockey Michael Walker screamed at doctors to cut off his leg after he fell victim to the excruciating condition – which occurs from a build-up of pressure from bleeding or tissue swelling – following a seemingly innocuous fall.
Fortunately for Payne, who won Australia’s biggest race on Prince Of Penzance in 2015, the soreness and bruising appears to be subsiding.
But she is still left with a cut face – which had to be stitched together – after the terrifying incident on Tuesday morning.
Payne 35, was doing track work at Ballarat, in Victoria, when she got hit.
But rather than dash to hospital she went onto ride four more horses, only going to see doctors once her work was done.
She said: “It wasn’t one of my own horses. It was a really quiet horse and it got a fright. I fell underneath him and he panicked and kicked me in the chin and the leg.
“Initially, I couldn’t get up because my leg was so sore. I was able to ride more horses – the blood was coming out of my chin but was still OK.
“I went to the emergency room after track work and they stitched me up and did a head scan.
“They were happy enough with my leg, it was just the bruising.
“But I saw the doctor again in the afternoon and he said to be really careful with the bruising because it’s similar to what happened with Michael Walker.
“If it continues to bleed in the muscle it could be dangerous.
“I’ve been icing it flat out and it’s come down. My leg was twice the size it is normally at one point, but it’s definitely coming down.”
Payne, the youngest of ten children, was due to ride this weekend but will give up the mount to continue her recovery.
She is the only woman to win the Melbourne Cup and has earned more than £14.1million in her career, with 764 victories.
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