I bust Madonna’s balls a lot. But you know, I think she’s had a tough time lately. The divorce, the bad plastic surgery, A-Rod, the man arms, the denied adoption, and the fact that Lourdes is way more of a trendsetter than she ever was- without even trying. And now, this.

Madonna was taken to a New York hospital Saturday after falling from a horse while at the South Hampton, N.Y., home of friend and famed photographer Steven Klein.

The singer’s rep, Liz Rosenberg, confirms Madonna was treated and released after suffering minor injuries and bruises.

“The accident occurred when the horse Madonna was riding was startled by paparazzi who jumped out of the bushes to photograph the singer, who was visiting friends on Eastern Long Island over the weekend,” Rosenberg said in a statement to Usmagazine.com. “Madonna will be having further tests and will continue to remain under observation by doctors.”

In 2005, Madonna — a talented equestrian — cracked three ribs and broke her hand and collar bone in a riding accident at her estate just outside London on her 47th birthday. The horse she was riding was a gift from her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie.

Seven months after her injuries, the singer, now 50, was photographed by Klein for a 58-page spread in W magazine, where she was pictured alongside six stallions and posed for the cover in her riding gear.

[From Us Weekly]

Most of the time, I have no sympathy for Madonna – she seems like a self absorbed person with absolutely zero self awareness. It must be hard to be that vain and full of yourself, and then lose your looks. But being Madonna doesn’t always seem like an easy job. This would be a good example of one of those times. Paparazzi hiding in the bushes on your property, causing a potentially serious accident, doesn’t seem like a lot of fun to me- but it’s an everyday occurrence for celebrities like Madonna. Those photographers are very lucky one of Madonna’s children wasn’t involved. I can’t even imagine what could have happened to a less experienced rider. I think maybe Madonna’s had enough bad luck these days.

Note by Celebitchy: The paparazzo alleged to have caused the accident denies that he was there when it happened. He said he snapped photos before the accident occurred, then he left and returned to the scene when he heard an ambulance was there:

We spoke with the photog who tells us he shot Madonna before and after she fell — but was not there for the actual fall. He tells us he took pics of her riding and then left. About 30 minutes later, he says he got a tip about an ambulance being sent out for a 50-year-old woman — so he put two and two together and went back to snap pics of her being tended to.

He says all his photos were taken from a public road and the only other photog around was Stephen Klein — the famous photographer whose house Madonna was at.

As Hinton put it, “If I had startled the horse, I would have gotten pictures!”

[From TMZ]

Madonna is pictured on April 3, 2009, after learning that her attempt to adopt Malawian toddler Mercy James was denied. Photos: Fame.