The All Black hooker, who spent just 4min on the field in the test against Australia in Hong Kong on November 1, is back in New Zealand with his lower leg in plaster, two pins holding the tibia and fibula (the two main lower leg bones) together and under strict orders not to put any weight on it.
The medical term is a high sprain of the ankle and it has grounded the All Black for the rest of this season.
Hobbling around on crutches at the family farm, Stonehenge, at Patearoa, Hore elicits a wry smile as he figures out which goes first down the stairs, the crutches or the feet.
That question is quickly answered as he struggles to regain his balance and decides it is definitely the crutch that goes first to take the weight.
"That's the second time I've nearly come to grief," he said.
He had a comfortable chair in the woolshed yesterday morning, helping out a bit and keeping an eye on the shearing of the merino wethers, after driving over from Christchurch to spend a day or two with the family.
In answer to the question "Where do you live?" he laughed and said, "Out of a suitcase. Well, actually, my wife lives in Christchurch so I'm living with her at present."
He admits hanging about is not something he enjoys doing and he is looking forward to a visit to the surgeon on November 25 so he can get some idea of how much longer he will be incapacitated.
He is hoping to start running in January and then take the long road to getting fit in time for the Super 14.
