Gees! What a ride!

Actually a few bangs!

Part 1

There were countless bumps, bruises, and accidents throughout my childhood, but I’ll focus on the two that had the biggest impact on my life.

As a kid, I took more than my fair share of knocks to the head. Some came from a family member, others from playground mishaps, a netball, falling off bikes, horses, motorbikes… you name it. I was young, fearless, and full of energy. If there was something exciting to do, I was there—without giving much thought to what could go wrong.

I loved speed. The faster, the better.

So, becoming a track rider with racehorses, seemed like the obvious career path.

At 16, I moved north to work for what was considered the best female racehorse trainer in the country. I arrived expecting to jump straight into the saddle, but reality had other plans. For weeks, I never sat on a horse. Instead, I swept, cleaned yards, fed horses, cleaned gear, and became the stable’s general dogsbody. Looking back, at the time, I didn’t mind. I was used to working hard and was working towards a dream, I determined to earn my place.

The day finally came.

The trainer took me out for my first ride. We galloped along the beach at about three-quarter pace, the waves beside us and the wind in my face.

I was back on a horse…

And I absolutely loved it.

Afterwards she asked, “Are you up for riding another one? I’d like my husband to watch you ride too.”

She told me she’d been impressed and wanted him to see me.

Inside, my legs were screaming. After weeks out of the saddle, every muscle was burning.

But was I going to let that stop me?

Not a chance.

“Yep,” I said.

We mounted up, rode through the farm, and started down a hill.

The next thing I remember was waking up in hospital.

A doctor was leaning over me, wearing a tie covered in Jungle Book characters.

Then everything went black.

The next image I remember is my nan walking into the room. The look on her face said everything. She was horrified.

Then darkness again.

Later, I remember being wheeled down what looked like a basement corridor. Lying there on the bed, I genuinely thought I had died and off to the morgue.

Then again…  darkness….