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

Pillen, 68, was riding on horseback with family members on Sunday when he was "bucked off a new horse and was injured," his office said in a news release.

The Republican governor was transported to Columbus Community Hospital "out of an abundance of caution," then transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

"The Governor is expected to remain at UNMC for several days," the release said, describing him as "alert" and in "continuous touch" with his team.

Pillen suffered a spleen injury, minor kidney injury, minor fracture to one of his vertebrae and seven rib fractures on his left side, trauma surgeons at the University of Nebraska Medical Center said in an update Monday.

Dr. Hillman Terzian said the governor came to the hospital conscious and in stable condition. He underwent a procedure called a prophylactic embolization, described as a minimally invasive procedure, to stop bleeding from the spleen injury.

Doctors said his kidney and vertebrae injuries will resolve on their own. They said there was no damage to his nervous system and no signs of a head injury nor spinal canal injury

"He has been very, very motivated to get out of bed ... He's already been walking laps, which is very impressive," Terzian said.

Pillen is currently in the intensive care unit, which is standard for those with a spleen injury. He's expected to to leave the intense care unit sometime Monday afternoon and will remain at the hospital for at least one more day if not longer, mainly to ensure his rib fractures are addressed.

"We're optimistic and we think he has a very good prognosis," Terzian said, noting doctors have no other operations planned for him at this time.

"Gov. Pillen and his family are very appreciative of the thoughts and prayers given to them by Nebraskans and they wish all Nebraskans a very merry Christmas," the governor's office said in a news release.

Pillen was sworn in as governor in Jan. 2023. He and his wife, Suzanne, have four children and seven grandchildren.

Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-NE, wrote on X: "Nebraskans, please join Susanne and I in praying tonight for a speedy recovery for Governor Pillen."