Editing Christopher Reeve (section)

===Equestrianism and injury===
Reeve began his involvement in [[Equestrianism|horse riding]] in 1985 after learning to ride for the film ''[[Anna Karenina (1985 film)|Anna Karenina]]''. He was initially [[Allergy|allergic]] to horses, so he took [[antihistamine]]s. He trained on [[Martha's Vineyard]], and by 1989, he began [[eventing]]. His allergies soon disappeared.<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), pp. 6–8</ref>

Reeve purchased a 12-year-old American [[thoroughbred]] horse named Eastern Express, nicknamed "Buck", while filming ''[[Village of the Damned (1995 film)|Village of the Damned]]''. He trained with Buck in 1994 and planned to do Training Level events in 1995 and move up to Preliminary in 1996. Though Reeve had originally signed up to compete at an event in [[Vermont]], his coach invited him to go to the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association finals at the Commonwealth Park equestrian center in [[Culpeper, Virginia]]. Reeve finished in fourth place out of 27 in the [[dressage]], before walking his cross-country course. He was concerned about jumps 16 and 17 but paid little attention to the third jump, which was a routine {{convert|1|m|ft|spell=in|adj=mid|-tall}} fence shaped like the letter "W".<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), pp. 14–18</ref>

On May 27, 1995, Reeve's horse made a [[Refusals and runouts|refusal]]. Witnesses said the horse began the third fence jump and suddenly stopped. Reeve fell forward off the horse, holding on to the [[rein]]s. His hands became tangled in them, and the [[bridle]] and [[Horse tack#Bits|bit]] were pulled off the horse.{{refn|group=note|Afterward, Buck was boarding at Gathering Farm in [[Hamilton, Massachusetts]]. Reeve regularly called the stables to check on him and was sent videos of his training sessions. Later, Buck was sold to new owners. Reeve said, "He's a beautiful, sweet-natured animal. None of what happened was his fault.&nbsp;... I'm hoping he'll have a long and happy life with his new owners. He's a wonderful horse."<ref>{{cite book|title=Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve|author=Andersen, Christopher |date=July 8, 2008 |publisher=Hyperion Books |pages=146 |isbn=978-1-4013-2302-8}}</ref>}} He landed head first on the far side of the fence, shattering his [[Atlas (anatomy)|first]] and [[Axis (anatomy)|second vertebrae]]. The resulting [[Spinal cord injury#Cervical spine|cervical spinal injury]] paralyzed him from the neck down and halted his breathing. Paramedics arrived three minutes later and immediately took measures to get air into his lungs. He was taken first to the local hospital, before being flown by helicopter to the [[University of Virginia Health System|University of Virginia Medical Center]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Romano |first=Lois |date=June 1, 1995 |title=Riding Accident Paralyzes Actor Christopher Reeve |page=A01 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/06/01/riding-accident-paralyzes-actor-christopher-reeve/0be8dd07-bb0c-438d-ae4a-de206f5942f7/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240310223631/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/06/01/riding-accident-paralyzes-actor-christopher-reeve/0be8dd07-bb0c-438d-ae4a-de206f5942f7/ |archive-date=March 10, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2006 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> He had no recollection of the accident.<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), pp. 18–25</ref>