Makenzie Taylor, who did not participate in many organized sports as a child, began playing volleyball her freshman year at Ramona High.

The 5-foot-5 back row player was all set to play on the varsity team in 2007, but was forced to miss the entire season last fall because of a serious injury she suffered at home the day after school ended her sophomore year.

Now a senior, Taylor is back on the Bulldogs' girls volleyball team.

Q: What was the injury?

A: It was a broken pelvis.

Q: How were you hurt?

A: I went for a trail ride on my horse, Boogie, and you warm up by riding in circles, but I forgot to make sure the trail at our house was clear of loose gravel. He tripped and rolled over me.

Q: Were you in immediate pain?

A: It was a freak accident. I've fallen off horses before and only gotten the wind knocked out of me. I could tell this was different. I couldn't breathe and I couldn't feel anything. I thought I was paralyzed.

Q: What happened after that?

A: I was life flighted down to Palomar Hospital, and four days later I had surgery.

Q: Was that your first flight in a helicopter?

A: Yes. I didn't see much. I mostly stared at the ceiling. I was on so much morphine.

Q: How long did it take you to recover at home?

A: I was bedridden for what seemed like a long time, and then I was supposed to be in a wheelchair for two months and then on crutches. Maybe I willed myself to get better, but I was in the chair about three weeks. By the time school started in the fall I was walking with just a limp.

Q: What was tougher -- the wheelchair or the crutches?

A: Those crutches were the most frustrating things ever invented. I couldn't do anything easy, even stuff that always was easy to do.

Q: What was the worst thing about crutches?

A: Every time I plopped down on the sofa to watch TV, which I don't do very often, the remote was always on the other side of the room.

Q: How long was it before the doctors let you do more than just walk?

A: About five months. But I did walk 60 miles in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk, even with my limp.

Q: How surprised are you that you were up and walking so quickly?

A: Believe me, I know how lucky I am. It's hard to imagine I was even hurt now.

Q: Were you nervous the first time back on Boogie?

A: I kept thinking about the last time. I just didn't want to freak out.

Q: How quickly did the word get out about your injury?

A: Almost immediately. People told me the whole town knew I got hurt.

Q: How much did you miss volleyball last season?

A: I had such a packed schedule. Since I knew I still had senior year and another club volleyball season, I got a lot of classwork done. But it still hurt to walk past the gym and hear the cheering and the referee's whistles.

Q: Since you weren't a big sports participant, how did you wind up in volleyball?

A: My friend tried out freshman year, so I went with her. I'd never even touched a volleyball before. I just winged it and made the team. My parents were shocked I even wanted to play a team sport.

Q: What's the reaction around school to a volleyball player who is a prize-winning barrel rider too?

A: My teammates like hearing about competitions, called festivals. The boys think of me as a farmer girl. Kenzie's just off riding her horse.

Q: When did you start riding horses?

A: When I was 6, my sister (Whitney) got a horse for Christmas. I started competing when I was 11.

Q: When did you get your own horse?

A: I got my first horse (June Flower) when I was 8. We still have her out in the barn, but she's too old to ride now.

Q: Are you going to be able to go off to college next year and leave Boogie behind?

A: Maybe I need to find a place near college -- I'm thinking about Northern Arizona -- where I could give riding lessons.