Many in the harness racing industry have generously reached out to offer assistance and send well wishes to local horseman Braiden Reibeling who was seriously injured an automobile accident on November 22.
Included on the list of those chipping in to help the young horseman was pacer Dont Dilly Dally, who was a front-stepping winner Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the hospitalized Reibeling and his father, Kyle Reibeling.
Braiden, who will turn 19 on November 30th, has undergone numerous surgeries at Hamilton General Hospital for a long list of injuries suffered in the crash. And according to his father, the road to recovery will be a long one.
“His left leg was pinned in the truck and it took the fire department half an hour to extract him from the vehicle by using the jaws of life,” said Kyle Reibeling. “The first people to arrive on the scene after the accident also played a key role because the put out a fire that started after the crash.
“Braiden’s left leg was crushed in the accident,” Kyle added. “He had multiple fractures in the femur and the kneecap in the left leg and he severed a tendon in that leg, too. He broke his right leg and had to have a rod installed between his femur and hip. He broke his jaw, too.”
Despite the long list of infirmities, Braiden is already doing what he does best – working hard.
“He’s got a good attitude and he’s pushing through,” Kyle added. “He’s always been a hard worker around the barn and at the track, and he’s working hard with the physiotherapy they’re already getting him to do in the hospital.
“Braiden had a chance to watch Thursday’s win in his hospital bed and he got emotional and indicated he would have loved to have been at the track with us,” Kyle added. “We all appreciate the calls, the texts, the help and the outpouring of support from our friends and people from within the industry.”
Friends of the family were quick to set up a gofundme initiative for Braiden, who will continue to work hard in recovering so he can make a quick return to the racetrack.