Just four days after his repeat victory in the $75,000 Asheville Regional Airport Wellington Eventing Showcase (Fla.), four-star eventer Boyd Martin fractured his collarbone Feb. 10 after a fall from Amanda Thurston’s Argon 18 in the novice division at Full Gallop Farm (S.C.).

“We came to an intimidating novice fence, and he hesitated and slipped at the same time, and I managed to break Argon’s fall perfectly with my collarbone,” said Martin.

Martin was then taken to Augusta University Medical Center, where it was discovered he had fractured his collarbone. Argon 18 was unhurt in the fall.

Martin was then taken to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York with the help of Dr. Mark Hart of the Event Owners Task Force, and there he will undergo surgery to install a plate as well as receive special bone regeneration therapy to accelerate healing.

His plans for the spring season and making a bid at the Rio Olympic Games remain unchanged.

“I’m in my element when things go into chaos like this,” Martin said. “When it’s all going too perfect, you lose your urgency a little bit, so I’ll be good to go. I’ve got plenty of time.

“It’s sort of a little bit déjà vu,” he continued. “Before the [Alltech FEI] World Equestrian Games [France], I managed to break my leg.”

As for his horses, Martin is hoping fellow four-star rider Phillip Dutton will compete Shamwari 4 and Master Frisky this weekend in the preliminary horse trials at Pine Top Farm (Ga.). Martin is planning on taking his recovery one step at a time. He suffered the same injury 10 years ago in Australia. (Read more about Martin’s many broken bones.)

“I’m looking forward to lying down for a couple of days, things have been going fast and furious with the event horses lately. It’s like a holiday,” Martin said with a laugh. “I’m just going to return once it starts feeling strong enough to handle it. I’ll do it bit by bit, and once it feels strong enough I’ll do a little bit more rather than putting a number on it.”