First-term Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen chose to have surgery Wednesday to repair his broken ribs at the Nebraska Medical Center. The decision will keep Pillen, 68, in the hospital at least “several more days for recovery and observation” after he was seriously injured Sunday when a new horse he was riding with family

The governor's office said Wednesday that Pillen chose to have a rib fixation procedure, in which doctors will use metal plates to stabilize his seven broken ribs.

His office said the "the governor's injuries were serious but not life-threatening and could have been much worse."

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was hospitalized Sunday after he was thrown off a horse, his office said. Pillen, 68, was riding on horseback with family members on Sunday when he was “bucked off a new horse and was injured,

The governor is expected to remain in the hospital "for several days” following the incident, his office announced on Sunday, Dec. 22

Doctors say the 68-year-old governor's prognosis is good despite seven rib fractures, a minor fracture in one of his vertebrae and a minor kidney injury.

OMAHA, Neb. — First-term Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen chose to have surgery Wednesday to repair his broken ribs at the Nebraska Medical Center.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was hospitalized Sunday after he was thrown off a horse, injuring his spleen and fracturing a vertebra and seven ribs, officials said.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was hospitalized Sunday after being bucked off a new horse during a ride with family members in northeast Nebraska. His injuries were serious enough, though not disclosed, that he was transported “out of an abundance of caution” from Columbus Community Hospital to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.