A longtime Pine River Valley resident is expected to recover after being thrown from a horse last weekend, suffering injuries that required helicopter transport to Mercy Regional Medical Center.

Upper Pine River Fire Protection District Chief Bruce Evans said Ricky Ludwig was riding a horse on the southeast side of Vallecito Reservoir about 11:30 a.m. Saturday with his family when his horse reared and threw him off.

The horse kicked Ludwig in the head, Evans said, and then rolled on top of him. Ludwig suffered an injury to his head and his abdomen. Out of extreme caution, a Flight for Life helicopter was called to take him to the hospital.

“When you have someone with an abdominal injury … you never know how bad it is until they get to the hospital,” he said. “So you never take a chance with that and always err on the side of caution.”

The helicopter landed on a designated landing zone near the dam. Evans said Ludwig did not require further transport to Denver and, as of Wednesday, was doing well.

Evans said Ludwig and his family are an entrenched part of the community in the Pine River Valley. He said Ludwig is a former volunteer with the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District and used to work for the Forest Lakes Metro District.

“He’s a very beloved individual in the Pine River Valley,” Evans said.

jromeo@durangoherald.com