In a telephone conversation Monday morning while he was making his usual one-hour walk on the Del Mar beach with retired rider and Del Mar resident Fernando Toro, Solis said he is scheduled to have an MRI on Thursday.

"If things look good, the brace will come off," Solis said.

He added, "My doctor was very pleased when he saw the x-rays the last time I went. The MRI will show better how things are healing."

Solis suffered a fractured vertebra in his back when his mount, Golden K K, clipped heels with another horse and went down, unseating the rider.

"The last 10 days I've been doing really well," Solis said. "I'm finished with all the pain pills and the pills I needed to sleep, so I really feel good. I feel like I'm back to my real self."

Of his ordeal, Solis said, "I'm very grateful that I'm alive and walking, and that I'll be back again.