Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was hospitalized after being bucked off a horse he was riding on Sunday, according to a statement from his office.
The Governor’s office stated Pillen had been riding a new horse with members of his family.
The 68-year-old Republican was initially taken to Columbus Community Hospital and then, “out of an abundance of caution,” to Omaha’s University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), his office said.
Pillen’s office did not specify what injuries he sustained, but according to NBC News- who spoke with trauma surgeons at UNMC- the governor suffered a spleen injury, minor kidney injury, minor fracture to one of his vertebrae and seven rib fractures on his left side.
Governor Pillen underwent a minimally invasive procedure to stop internal bleeding. Doctors say he suffered no serious injuries to his nervous system and no signs of a head injury nor spinal canal injury.
He remains in the ICU and is expected to stay at UNMC for “several days” which is reportedly standard-practice for spleen injuries.
“Gov. Pillen and his family are very appreciative of the thoughts and prayers given to them by Nebraskans and they wish all Nebraskans a very merry Christmas,” the governor’s office said in a news release.