Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne has had a close shave, escaping serious injury after being kicked in the face by a horse.
The 35-year-old suffered cuts to her face and chin, as well as heavy bruising on her legs after falling under a horse at Ballarat yesterday morning.
She went to hospital for scans and treatment after her injuries didn't subside following a day of track work.
"It wasn't one of my own (horses), a really, really quiet horse and it got a fright … I fell underneath him and when he got a fright he panicked and kicked me in the chin and kicked me in the leg," Payne told News Corp.
"Initially I couldn't get up because my leg was so sore and I thought I was being a sook, but I was able to ride more horses … the blood was coming out of my chin but was still OK.
"I went to the emergency (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, like a massive corkie."
Payne was warned by doctors to be mindful of compartment syndrome developing from the bruising on her leg.
Compartment syndrome is a build-up of internal pressure that can trigger an excruciatingly painful and dangerous condition, which jockey Michael Walker endured last month.
Payne has since passed two concussions tests.
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