Georgina Bloomberg's Scary Fall: Echoes of Chris Reeve

(CBS/AP) Horse jumping is risky business, as the 27-year-old daughter of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg reminded us again Friday night.

Georgina Bloomberg suffered a concussion and fractured spine after taking a tumble during an equestrian sporting tournament, her publicist said Sunday. The fall evoked memories of the paralyzing injury suffered 15 years ago by another celebrity with a passion for horse-jumping, "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve.

Bloomberg fell from her mount, Radio City, when her saddle came loose during a jump while competing in the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament, her publicist Kenneth Kraus said.

She was briefly knocked unconscious, but walked out of the arena on her own.

"It wasn't until the following morning that she had back pain and went to the hospital," Kraus said. "I talked to her yesterday. She said her head was fine."

"The mayor is very concerned, as any father would be," said Stu Loeser, the mayor's spokesman, in an e-mailed statement.

Georgina Bloomberg was expected to undergo a thorough examination Monday.

That sounds like a good idea.

Concussions are serious injuries and can have lasting health consequences, including dementia, according to Dr. Mark Halstead of Washington University in St. Louis, an expert in sports-related concussions. They "need to be treated as if they are a big deal," he says. "The brain is pretty important."