Mclain Ward Injured at WEF

I bring you, unfortunately, heartbreaking news.  Mclain Ward was injured tonight during the Grand Prix in Wellington.  And in the same week that Sapphire went back to work.  Ugh, just such terrible news.

Here is the story reported by COTH as of tonight:

Top show jumper Mclain Ward has broken his leg in a fall during the $30,000 Surpass Grand Prix in Wellington, Fla., on the evening of Jan. 14.

Ward’s mount in the class, Oh 'd Eole, veered to the left jumping out of a combination and both she and Ward fell. Medics attended to Ward, who was transported out of the ring in a medical golf cart and then to Wellington Regional Medical Center. The horse was unhurt in the fall.

According to his barn manager, Erica McKeever, Ward suffered a compound fracture of the patella, or a shattered knee cap, and is being attended by specialists at Wellington Regional including orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Craig Ferrell. As of 11:00 p.m., he was being prepped for surgery. The Chronicle will update readers on Ward's status tomorrow.

Ward and Oh 'd Eole won the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 on Jan. 12.

According to this thread containing posts from folks who were on the scene, however, Mclain suffered a compound fracture to his femur and a dislocated patella.  I'm not sure which is the most reliable source of information, but in any event, it was a bad fall and a serious injury.  I will do another blog post once I have more information.

Wishing Mclain all the best and a very speedy recovery.