Lockyer Valley horse trainer Laura Bourke’s career in doubt after ankle shattered in fall from horse

An expert trainer is pleading with motorists to be more compassionate after a passing truck spooked her horse, causing it to throw her from the saddle with the fall shattering her ankle.

Laura Bourke's leg was shattered when a passing truck spooked her horse and she was thrown, on Murphys Creek road, September 27, 2023. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support her recovery.

Laura Bourke has dedicated the past 17 years to building a reputation as a skilled equestrian trainer, with a career that took her around the world.

But all of that effort may have been for nothing after her leg was shattered in a roadside fall just a few metres from her home.

The Lockyer Valley trainer was riding her horse along Murphys Creek Rd on September 27 when she was buzzed by a truck.

Despite putting her hand out to caution the driver, the vehicle passed within centimetres, spooking her horse and causing it to bolt.

Ms Bourke lost her balance and was thrown from the saddle.

“As I fell, my leg got caught in stirrup and I could feel it break and when I hit the ground I broke my arm,” she said.

“I had to crawl across the road to get to my phone and as I rolled onto my back I could see cars starting to line up.”

One passer-by called triple-0 but Ms Bourke said it took about 40 minutes for paramedics to arrive.

Laura Bourke's ankle was shatter and required 18 pins to stabilise.

“I am no stranger to broken bones, I have fractured my back, and broke my arm twice, but I have never been in so much pain,” she said.

Ms Bourke was transported to Greenslopes Private Hospital where she underwent two surgeries that included inserting 18 pins into her ankle, mending a distal radius fracture of her forearm and treating a broken leg.

She was released from hospital on Friday but said she doubts she will ride again, let alone compete and train with show jumping horses with pressure it would put on her shattered ankle bones.

“I take a lot of pride in producing really lovely horses,” she said.

“I buy and sell horses and I train them up to a point so they will do great in the equestrian community.

“But I am not sure what will happen from here.”

Laura Bourke made an international name for herself as an equestrian trainer having worked overseas before settling in Murphy’s Creek. Her career may be over as her crippled ankle may not withstand the high-impact sport.

Ms Bourke said she was told the matter is not classed as a traffic crash because no one was hit, so she is pleaded with drivers to be more considerate around horses on country roads.

“Please be respectful,” she said.

“If it was one of your relatives that you were passing, you would slow down, so do the same for a stranger.

“It was bound to happen to someone and unfortunately it was me.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Ms Bourke’s recovery.

Click here to support it.

Originally published as Lockyer Valley horse trainer Laura Bourke’s career in doubt after ankle shattered in fall from horse