Event rider Laura Collett is back in the saddle and jumping her horses, after her serious accident last month.
“It’s very exciting to be back riding again,” she told H&H. “It’s all going well and I’m feeling fine. It just feels normal, and it’s nice to be back doing my usual things.”
Laura posted photos of herself jumping “Super Steve” aka Noble Bestman on Twitter this morning (Thursday 8 August).
“I schooled him at the weekend, but this has been the first time I’ve jumped him since my fall,” she said. “He was very good, and I’m not sore at all. I’ve been very lucky.
“They’ve all been very good, my head girl Felicity has been keeping them ticking over and Yogi [Breisner, British Eventing team manager] has been down to ride them too.”
She also had a sit on her stable star, Rayef, today (pictured).
“It was lovely to be back on him,” she said. “He’s grand to school but he can be a bit naughty out hacking, so I’ve told Felicity she can keep doing that for the time being!”
Laura suffered serious crush injuries — including lung damage and rib fractures — during a rotational fall from Tis A Beauty at Tweseldown on 8 July.
She spent some time at Oaksey House, the Injured Jockeys Fund rehabilitation centre in Lambourn, Berks, after being discharged from hospital. But she’s aiming to be back competing as soon as she can.
“I’m still signed off eventing so I won’t be competing for a bit — but as soon as I’m allowed to I’ll be back,” added Laura. “I’m doing lots of physio at Oaksey House still. It’s hard work — mainly because I’m doing exercises I’m not used to. But it’s nice to know that I’ll be fitter after this than I was before when I was eventing.”
She added that she’s “trying not to overdo it”.
“That’s really hard for me, but everyone is telling me I need to be sensible so I’m trying to do that.
“I haven’t ridden Kauto Star yet — Yogi’s ridden him — but I might have a go next week.”
And in her absence last week (Thursday 1 August) showjumper Trevor Breen took the ride on Noble Bestman in the eventing grand prix at Hickstead. The pair finished 5th.
“It was nice to be back at Hickstead — I used to do showing there,” she added. “Seeing Steve in the eventing grand prix was great though, I think he was surprised to have such long legs round him. Trevor rode him beautifully, but it was very nerve racking watching — I’d much prefer to be riding.”
