Injured eventer Polly Williamson on the mend

Injured eventer Polly Williamson is making “brilliant” progress and hopes to be discharged from her brain injury rehab unit at the end of next month, or early May, say her family.

Polly, 43, was in a coma for 10 days following a fall at her yard in Malmesbury, Wilts, on 8 December.

Her mother, Susie Lyon-Heap told H&H it was “the news you dread most”.

“It was terrifying,” she said. “It took her a long time to come round, there was nothing for 10 days. The first glimmer was when she squeezed her sister’s hand.”

Three months after the accident, with intensive rehabilitation at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, Polly has turned the corner.

“She can now just about walk on her own and, mentally, she is fine,” said Mrs Lyon-Heap.

As Polly will not be able to ride in the short-to-medium term, her horses are being sold.

But Mrs Lyon-Heap said she had “no doubts” that her daughter would recover.

“She has that steely determination – it runs in the family,” she added.

Polly’s sister, Tory Jowett, said there was a “welcome change of luck” for the family when her mother’s horse won at the Wynnstay point-to-point last Sunday (11 March).

“It was wonderful for my mother, who has had a traumatic three months,” she said.

Mr Tiger, ridden and trained by Sam Allwood, won at Bangor on only his second run.

The six-year-old is by Emperor Fountain out of Mrs Jowett’s mare Thamesdown Tootsie, on whom she won five ladies’ open point-to-points in the 1990s.

“It was absolutely thrilling,” said Mrs Lyon-Heap. “I have watched both my daughters win enormous cups over the years but it’s the first time I’ve been handed one.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (22 March)

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