Irish showjumper Billy Twomey is to have surgery for a painful back problem.
Billy, 35, has been suffering with a slipped disc in his lower back.
On his website, Billy said: “I have been maintaining it with injections and have been guided by a number of different specialists including the team at Bolton Wanderers who look after the footballers.
“The time has come to get it sorted once and for all; the operation will happen in Germany and I will be in hospital for about a week and then an intense period of physio will be needed.”
His operation is scheduled for the second week in November. The Nottinghamshire-based rider will be out of action for several weeks after the surgery, but hopes to be back just before Christmas.
Stable jockey Anthony Condon will keep Billy’s horses — including his London 2012 Olympics mount, Tinka’s Serenade — ticking over, he added.
