Northumberland-based eventer, David Herron, who suffered head injuries in an accident last season at Burgie when his ride, Jet Skier, collapsed and died beneath him, is making a good recovery and is determined to return to the competition circuit.
“I’m a lot better, but my reaction times are slower,” said David, whose goal is to do a pre-novice class next year.
David went into a coma after the accident in June 2003, but he gradually regained consciousness and made excellent progress at Newcastle’s hunter’s Moor Rehabilitation Centre.
Since returning home, David has been riding Jack, a 14.2hh pony, who lives at the yard of Jet Skier’s owner, Sally Enderby. He also sees a personal trainer once a week and goes walking every day.
“I really want to get back to eventing,” he said. “It’s so frustrating not being able to jump, although I did jump Jack the other day. I was delighted that I still knew when he was going to take off. The skills are still there; it’s a bit like having a long holiday. I’m looking at this as a stop-gap.”
Daphne and Michael Jeans, who own David’s yard at Tranwell, near Morpeth, have kept the yard going as a livery yard during David’s recovery.
The costs of David’s rehabilitation are being met by the support group, Friends of David. Set up by friends, fellow riders and some people who David had never met last July, in just six months, £20,000 has been raised through donations and events.
- This news story was originally published in Eventing magazine — The international magazine for the sport of horse trials. For more eventing news, plus a free map and guide to all the 2004 eventing fixtures, don’t miss the March issue of Eventing, ON SALE NOW. Click here to subscribe and enjoy Eventing delivered to your door every month.
