The owner of a horse who suffered a catastrophic hindleg fracture but has returned to showjumping victory has paid tribute to the mare’s character – and shared her story to give hope to others.

Abbie Shackell’s mare Moet, who was seven at the time, broke her cannon bone in January 2024. Surgery was not an option as the damage was too severe. But by the end of the autumn that year, Moet was back in the ring, and has gone from strength to strength since.

“I call her a miracle horse, because I don’t know how she’s managed it,” Abbie told H&H. “She’s the loveliest horse in the world, not a bad bone in her body, which is probably how she’s managed to come back.”

Abbie had bought Moet, her “dream horse”, as a two-year-old and put in all the years of work so they were winning in the ring.

Then in January 2024, Moet came in from the field with a wound in her hindleg.

“It was quite deep but she was only a little bit lame on it,” Abbie said. “I sent a picture to my vet and he said he thought it should heal on its own, but a week later, I rang him and said it wasn’t closing up. He came out, and could feel it was broken, so he took an X-ray, and it was in quite a state.”

Abbie said Moet had been walking around in the yard comfortably, hardly lame, before the vet arrived.

“We all sat there for a while, he was looking at the X-ray, and looking at her, and thinking, ‘I don’t know how she’s even standing on it’,” Abbie said. “If someone had sent you that X-ray, you’d have said ‘That horse has no chance’.

“We asked about surgical options and he said it was almost in too many pieces. You couldn’t put it back together because it went in four different directions, it was in too many bits to pin. I truly believe a different vet might have said ‘Nothing can be done here’; it was horrendous and I thought that was going to be it, she wouldn’t recover.”

But the vet took into account the fact Moet was able to bear weight, and was very sensible, and said “Let’s give it a go”. He splinted the leg, and the mare spent some time in cross-ties, then on general box rest with a very deep, big bed.

‘It was like she knew’

“It was like she knew,” Abbie said. “She just stood there and was good as gold. She just must have known what she had to do, because every time she got up, she was really careful. She didn’t put any weight on it, she didn’t do anything silly in the stable, even when we first turned her out, she’s a competition horse, but she just went out and was really calm. She’s just amazing, she’s got such a nice attitude, and I think that’s the thing that saved her.”

But the vet was hopeful that if the bone healed, Moet would be able to get back to doing what she loved.

“He said if it worked and it all came back together, she should be fine, and have a career, do everything,” Abbie said. “Everyone who asked me, I said what he’d said, and they all looked at me like I was stupid. I was thinking ‘Am I? Is she going to come back, or not?’ And she has.”

After about eight months, X-rays showed the bone had healed, and Abbie was given the go-ahead to start the long process of bringing her back into work, including plenty of water treadmill sessions and strengthening.

Rehabilitation

“It was just a case of mainly building her fitness once the bone had healed,” she said. “I put her on some really good feed, and tried to help boost her nutrition-wise but she was so sensible, and it healed quite quickly. But I do think that if another vet had looked at it, they’d have said ‘No’. She’s a lucky girl.

“When we went back to a show, my mum and I were both in tears,” she said. “It was only a 90cm but she went in the same as a year before and was as good as gold. We were both crying, and it took three or four outings every time, I couldn’t believe she had gone round.”

Moet built her fitness and stepped back up; she jumped – and won – her first 1.30m in May, and has been placed at almost every show this year.

“Even then, I thought ‘I don’t know how you’re alive, let alone winning’,” Abbie said. “Even if we have a bad round, which is rare on her because she’s such an honest horse, I still think, ‘Well, she’s on the box, she’s alive, which is more than what we thought we’d have.

“And I hope that seeing her come back from this might give someone some hope, because it’s so devastating when the horse gets injured. She’s a truly remarkable horse to come back from such a catastrophic injury the way she has.”

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

New findings revolutionise how bone fractures in horses heal and can be prevented *H&H Plus*

Young rider ‘broken in half’ in horse fall walks again – and is back in the saddle

FEI promises to act after horse with broken leg left untreated at show while awaiting dope-test: ‘This must never happen again’

‘His bone was in bits’: eventer who faced being put down comes back to championship win

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Olympic showjumper Twentytwo Des Biches is recovering after breaking a bone in her left foreleg in an accident at the final fence of the CSI5* Paris grand prix (20 March).

The 15-year-old mare, ridden by Switzerland’s Bryan Balsiger, was attended by on-site vets, before being taken to the veterinary clinic in Grosbois.

She underwent surgery on Monday (21 March), carried out by specialist Dr Fabrice Rossignol following consultation with Twenty’s regular vet, Thomas Wagner, and vet Anton Fürst of Zurich University.

An update from connections on Tuesday (22 March) said the surgery “went well” and the vets are “very happy with the result”.

“Recovery will obviously take time and the only goal is that Twenty can enjoy the retirement she deserves,” said the statement from her connections.

The Selle Francais mare, by Mylord Carthago, was part of the Swiss bronze medal-winning team at the 2017 Europeans with Romain Duget and the pair finished second at the World Cup final the same year. Bryan took the ride in 2018, and the pair made their international competition debut as a combination in 2019. They have numerous top international wins and placings and were part of the fifth-placed team at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics.

“This event is very difficult for me and I am very affected,” said Bryan. “But I am also relieved today to see that the operation went well and that Twenty is standing and can already walk.

“I now hope from the bottom of my heart that she recovers well so that I can see her as soon as possible at the park. Twenty gave me so much and allowed me to reach my dreams, she means so much to me. I thank everyone for the great support received since Sunday during this period. It touches me.”

Owner Christiana Brechtbühl added that Twenty is a “member of our family and what happened is extremely hard to live with”.

“We have lived through very difficult times, but these are fortunately behind us. We have done everything for Twenty and will continue to do so,” she said.

“Bryan and I are still in the Paris region with her. Our only objective is that she can enjoy the retirement she deserves after having given so much for us and had such a great and great sporting career.

“We were very touched by the many tokens of support we received. We would like to thank the veterinary teams on site in Paris as well as at the Clinique de Grosbois, as well as the Paris CSI organising committee for what they have done for Twenty and for us”.

Swiss team manager Michel Sorg said the accident is a “huge shock for the Swiss team”.

“We [supported] Christiana Brechtbühl, Bryan Balsiger, Mélusine Guiblin-Miché and all their team as best we could on site and also after that. And of course we continue to do so,” he said.

“It is a great relief to know that the operation went well. We all have only one wish, that Twenty can enjoy a nice retirement in the meadow after such a great career during which she gave so much to our Swiss team.

“Once again, we send our full support and thoughts to the entire Twentytwo team.”

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

BEFORE discussing pelvic fractures in horses, you need to understand the anatomy of horse’s pelvis, which connects the spine to the hindlimbs. Many powerful muscles attach to this structure; during locomotion, massive forces generated by the hindlimb musculature are transmitted through the pelvis into the spine, propelling the horse forward.

The equine pelvis is formed of three zones: the ilium, pubis and ischium, with the left- and right-hand sides forming a mirror image of one another. The ilium extends upwards and in front of the hip joints on either side, to form broad, curved surfaces called the ilial wings – which end at the obvious bony prominences called the tuber coxae. The pubis and ischium extend behind the hip joint and form the floor of the pelvis, connecting left and right sides at the rigid central joint called the pubic symphysis. The ischium ends with the tuber ischii, the bony prominences positioned either side of the tail.

Types of pelvic fracture in horses

THE most common type of pelvic fracture seen in horses outside racing is of the tuber coxae. Due to its superficial position on the side of the pelvis, this bony prominence takes the majority of collisions with stable doors or fences, or if a horse slips and lands on concrete, for example. These fractures may be seen with skin wounds or contusions, and the fracture severity depends on the force and angle of the collision.

Similar to these are fractures of the tuber ischii, which forms the point of the buttock. Damage is typically sustained when the horse backs into a wall, or slips with his hindlimbs beneath him to land in a sitting position.

Stress fractures commonly occur within the pelvis, due to the repetitive stress of exercise. These are typically seen in racehorses, due to the repeated demands of the work performed, but also in equine athletes in other disciplines where high-intensity training is regularly undertaken.

Bone is constantly adapting, or remodelling, to ensure that it is strong enough to cope with the forces experienced during exercise. The way this material adapts without becoming too heavy is by a coupled process, where new bone production and resorption – the natural breaking down of old bone – work hand in hand.

Excessive repetitive stress can result in this balance being lost, however, which in turn can lead to a stress fracture. Stress fractures in the pelvis, like those of other bones, develop in predictable locations, the most common of which is within the ilial wing.

Signs of pelvic fractures in horses

SIGNS that a horse may have fractured his pelvis include moderate to severe lameness, usually evident at a walk. Some types of pelvic fracture may also lead to more specific changes in how the horse walks. If the tuber ischii is fractured, for example, the horse may be reluctant to bring the affected hindleg forward as this will tighten the muscles running over this area.

Swelling of the affected region may also be seen. This can range from obvious bleeding and distortion to more subtle signs of asymmetry. A crunching feeling, termed crepitus, is sometimes evident upon examination as the bone fragments rub against each other. Most often, any associated bleeding is self-limiting, but if one of the major vessels – for example, those running across the shaft of the ilium – is damaged, a fatal internal bleed can occur.

Diagnosis can often be made from the clinical features described. Sometimes, more information is gained by internal examination via the rectum. Attempts at diagnosing pelvic fractures with X-rays are often unrewarding, because the huge muscles surrounding most of the pelvis reduce what can be seen.

Ultrasound, while not often used to diagnose fractures, is very useful for pelvic fractures in the horse. Only the surface of the bone is visible, but any displacement of the fracture fragments or significant bleeding into the muscle can typically be seen.

Stress fractures, in particular, are difficult to identify, and can easily be missed or misdiagnosed as a “pulled muscle”. But it is important to diagnose a stress fracture as continued exercise may result in a much more severe or even life-threatening fracture.

Diagnosis often requires advanced imaging with nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan), which is a sensitive method of pinpointing the site of injury. A radioactive element called technetium-99m is injected into the area and binds to a molecule, which then attaches to the calcium-containing crystals where new bone is being formed. Radiation is emitted from this compound and an image of the bone activity can be seen with a special detector.

Treatment of pelvic fractures in horses

IN the majority of cases, treatment of pelvic fractures in horses involves conservative management. Depending on the severity and location of the fracture, and the horse’s comfort level, he will typically be given a period of stable rest ranging from six weeks to three months, before walking exercise can be re-introduced.

When there is significant risk of the fracture displacing further and causing injury to important vessels, cross-ties are often used. This involves keeping the horse tied up in the stable, wearing a padded headcollar, to prevent him from lying down and incurring further injury. If this is necessary, the horse will need close monitoring and pain management. He must be allowed regular breaks to lower his head so that mucus can drain from his nostrils, to prevent lung infection.

Surgery is rarely used to treat pelvic fracture. The requirement for a lengthy period of general anaesthesia usually rules out surgical repair in adult horses, but this has been successful in foals.

Surgical intervention is usually only required to remove problematic fragments of bone that are painful or infected, or those involved with an open wound. Ilial wing fractures, for example, often produce a spike of bone that presses against the skin and requires removal.

The severity of a fracture often relates to whether or not the horse can bear weight, despite the injury. Involvement of the hip joint or disruption of the overall stability of the pelvis are key determinants in the prognosis. The pelvis is also close to several large and important vessels, which can be damaged during fracture.

Injuries to areas that are important for muscle attachment may not impact as much on weight-bearing, and are generally less severe. A common example of this is fracture of the tuber coxae. A horse with this injury is typically very lame for one to two days, before displaying a rapid improvement in comfort levels.

This injury is often referred to as a “knocked-down hip”, as the fractured tuber coxae ends up lower than normal on the affected side. Horses who sustain this fracture generally make a full return to athletic function, despite a permanent change to the shape of the pelvis.

Meet the vets

MATT SMITH MRCVS, a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) specialist in equine surgery, is a surgeon and partner at Newmarket Equine Hospital (NEH). Matt Chesworth MRCVS, also based at NEH, is a European specialist in equine surgery. This referral hospital is one of the largest in Europe, treating a wide range of leisure and sport horses from throughout the UK. Contact: 01638 782020, newmarketequinehospital.com

You might also be interested in:

A guide to box rest — how to navigate this testing time

Innovative surgery on equine fracture helps prevent catastrophic leg injury

The modern practice allows surgery to be performed without the need of general anaesthetic

Diagnosing hairline fractures with scintigraphy

Horse & Hound explains why scintigraphy or bone scanning can be one of the best ways of diagnosing a hairline

The Horse & Hound Podcast 51: Ginny Elliot | Bone scans | Wellington CDI | News round-up

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Nuclear scintigraphy (bone scans): what you need to know about this diagnostic test

Scintigraphy or bone scanning is a sensitive diagnostic tool, which can help identify the 'hot spots' of lameness

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

New insights into how bone forms, adapts and heals are revolutionising fracture prevention and repair, explains Patrick Pollock FRCVS

The ability to repair and prevent bone fractures in horses, which can come about as a result of a single trauma or as a result of ongoing microtrauma through inappropriate training, is a topic of great interest among the veternary community and horse owners alike, with exciting new insights available.

Bone is a substance that changes throughout life, in a process called remodelling. This allows the bones of foals and young horses to grow and change shape, and in adult horses enables the repair of damage and prevents bones from becoming brittle.

The amount of remodelling is affected by the horse’s age, the type of exercise he does and the surface on which he works. Research in thoroughbreds discovered that if horses undergo controlled exercise early in life, the bone “learns” to model in a way that protects it from injury in later life.

Interval training with short bursts of high-intensity exercise is more likely to result in healthy, strong bone, than low-intensity, endurance-type work. Exercise causes tiny areas of damage, leading to “stress remodelling”, where the bone adapts to the forces placed on it. This process, called an adaptive response, is critical to bone health.

Why bone fractures occur in horses

We now know that the die is cast for a fracture long before the bone actually fails. Inappropriate training before the adaptive bone response is complete leads to too much strain on the bone. This results in “fatigue injury”, microscopic damage to the bone.

If training continues, the osteoblasts lay down too much new bone, causing the bone in those parts of the skeleton placed under excessive strain to become more dense than normal. In horses, extra new bone tends to be laid down at the joints, such as around the condyles (rounded ends) of the fetlock and in the front part of the limb bones. This dense bone, called sclerotic bone, is actually quite brittle.

The advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has enabled us to see the true extent of pathological changes within the bone prior to fracture. Abnormally modelled bone with fatigue injury appears inflamed and contains excessive amounts of oedema (fluid). Stress fractures may even be visible before the horse is lame and before radiographs (X-rays) can detect the injury.

It appears certain humans may be predisposed to the development of stress fractures; genetic markers exist to identify these people, allowing them to be monitored. Recent work at the University of Edinburgh suggests this may also be the case in horses. And it would be exciting to be able to identify horses at risk of developing stress fractures through something as simple as a blood test.

We do still see fractures that come about as a result of trauma, such as a kick or a fall, and some performance horses do slip through the net and present with a fracture. Thanks to a better understanding of how to train horses to encourage the adaptive response, however, along with our ability to detect signs of bone microdamage before a fracture occurs, the number of sport horses suffering fractures is at an all-time low.

How healing occurs in bones

In contrast to soft tissues, such as tendon, ligament or skin, bone is one of the few body tissues able to heal without a fibrous scar.

Unlike the scar left after a skin wound heals, which never gains the same degree of strength and can be thought of as a fibrous “patch”, new bone laid down during fracture healing is just as strong as the original. Healing is so effective that it is often impossible to determine where the previous fracture was.

Bone healing is affected by two main factors: the size of the gap between the fractured ends of the bone and the strain across the fracture site. Strain relates to stability: a certain amount is good, keeping bone ends together, but too much interferes with healing.

To understand the healing processes, it can help to think about skin wounds. Where possible, we will close the wound and realign the edges of the skin to enable primary intention healing. Where the skin is lost, secondary intention healing occurs – the wound fills with a blood clot and then granulation tissue (proud flesh) and is eventually covered with new skin cells resulting in a larger scar.

When the gap between fractured bone ends is less than 0.01mm and the strain across the site is less than 2%, structures (cutting cones) develop across the fracture. These generate cavities that fill with bone produced by osteoblasts. This re-establishes bridges of osteons across the fracture line, which then remodel into normal lamellar bone.

As a result of this primary healing, there is no formation of a periosteal callus (lump) at the site. This is important in articular fractures, involving joints, which are common in horses, as the presence of a fracture gap then callus formation can potentiate the development of osteoarthritis.

Secondary bone healing occurs when the ends of the fractured bones are near enough to heal but not perfectly opposed, or when there is motion at the fracture site. This process involves the classical stages of injury: haemorrhage, inflammation and scar formation.

In bone, the “scar” is a soft callus made of cartilage; this then undergoes mineralisation and remodelling so that, unlike skin, the tissue becomes normal without any permanent scarring. Secondary bone healing is less of an issue in certain situations, such as fractures of the non-weight-bearing splint bones on either side of the cannons in the lower limb.

Because we now understand how bone is formed, how it adapts and responds to stress and activity and how it heals, we have never been so well prepared to identify and treat potential fractures before they occur – or to repair the damage when they do.

Understanding how bone forms

From the huge bones of the pelvis and femur to the tiny structures within the ear, each of the horse’s 205 bones performs a critical role – and each adapts in direct response to the forces and strains applied to it.

How does this remarkable, adaptable material form?

● Bone largely consists of a protein called collagen, which forms a framework for the mineral calcium phosphate. This combination makes bone strong yet flexible enough to withstand stress.

● Three types of cell are constantly at work within the bone: osteoclasts, which break down old bone through a process called resorption; osteoblasts, which make new bone, and mature bone cells called osteocytes, which basically tell the other two what to do.

● These groups of cells work together to form osteons, cylindrical structures surrounding a central canal that contains the bone’s blood supply. Osteons are aligned parallel to the long axis of the bone.

● The long bones of the skeleton have an outer layer of compact bone called the cortex. This is covered by the periosteum, a dense layer of vascular tissue which carries both nerves and the blood supply, and is important in bone healing. The medullary cavity in the centre of these bones stores the spongy marrow, where stem cells are produced.

Ref: 21 January 2021

You might also be interested in…

If in doubt, don’t! The dangers around antibiotic resistance in horses *H&H Plus*

Better out than in: why damaged molars are best removed *H&H Plus*

Play your part: how to help keep competition horses happy *H&H Plus*

How a squeeze can save a dummy foal’s life

A video released by The University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies shows surgeon Eugenio Cillán-Garcia performing a “standing fracture repair” on a racehorse from start to finish, inserting two screws into the leg.

The six-year-old novice hurdler had suffered a “micro-fracture” to the cannon bone, which had not shown up on an X-ray, and the operation was aimed at preventing worsening of the injury. It was diagnosed through the use of scintigraphy and MRI.

His trainer Lucinda Russell, who saddled 2017 Grand National winner One For Arthur, told H&H: “He’d run below expectation in a race at the start of May and was unlevel after the race. He was sound in walk, but not in trot.

“It’s terrifying that nothing showed up on the X-ray, we were so proud in the old days that we could X-ray their legs, but actually now we’re not getting enough information from it.”

The surgery took place within 10 days of lameness being spotted.

NB: Please wait while the video loads below… if the video does not appear, click here to watch

Dr Cillán-Garcia told H&H the video shows combined diagnostic imaging using scintigraphy [bone-scanning], MRI and X-rays. “In this case the horse was developing the start of a fracture; a micro-fracture or weakening of the bone, which we were unable to see with the X-rays,” he said. “The beauty of this case was that we could see the site of the micro-fracture with scintigraphy, and then clearly see the configuration with MRI, which helped to guide our treatment.”

The procedure shown in the video involves two screws being inserted into the cannon bone.

“We put the screws in to get the leg strong enough in that place and to avoid the fracture progressing. Had that horse gone on racing, he would have suffered a really bad fracture and we could have lost the horse. Prevention is the key,” said Dr Cillán-Garcia.

The standing fracture repair is considered a modern practice compared to the past, when general anaesthesia would have been used.

“We had the horse sedated and a specialist anesthesia team helping with the sedation and keeping him quiet. Everything has to be very slick from the nurses to the anaesthetist,” said Dr Cillán-Garcia. “Everyone in the chain knows their place which allows the procedure to be done quite quickly. It’s a full team involved and I am proud of working in a place like the equine hospital at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Without this fantastic team we would be unable to do this.”

The gelding was out of the hospital the next day and is on course to make a full recovery.

“This is a horse that doesn’t keep condition very well and one of the main advantages of the standing sedation procedure was that because he hadn’t had a general anaesthetic he recovered better and quicker overall,” said Lucinda.

Horses saved by pioneering surgery

A new kind of surgery can remove cataracts from horses’ eyes, enabling them to continue to compete rather than being

Headway in equine cataract surgery

A successful operation on a horse suffering from severe cataracts carried out at Liverpool University may herald a breakthrough in

Surgery for soft tissue swellings

Surgical removal of soft tissue swellings, where there is no associated lameness, is difficult and traumatic

Dr Cillán-Garcia said the gelding will come back to training with an excellent prognosis to race again.

“Put it this way, that area will be the strongest part of the horse’s body now,” said Dr Cillán-Garcia.

“I personally am very lucky, Eugenio is a fantastic addition to our team. We can look at the horses and try and prevent injury before it happens, in particular try and prevent catastrophic injuries,” said Lucinda. “In the time Eugenio has been working with us, our numbers of fatal fractures has dropped tremendously. This is one of the examples of it.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A National Hunt racehorse who suffered a serious fracture to a hind cannon bone has made a miraculous recovery winning her first race after a year off.

Miss Tiggy, who is in the care of Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell (One For Arthur), had her winning run at Ayr on 4 November.

“To win was just fantastic. The owner of the horse John Adams was totally supportive at every stage. The happiness and joy on his face in the winner’s enclosure made my day,” said Lucinda.

The seven-year-old mare was given a life-saving operation at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies equine hospital in Edinburgh in November 2016.

She had come in lame after the gallops, but nothing showed up on the first X-ray.

A follow-up bone scan at the Royal (Dick) revealed she had a serious fracture at the top of her hind cannon bone just under her hock.

Orthopaedic vet Eugenio Cillan Garcia from the Dick Vet Equine Practice said the only way to repair the break was to put three screws into the cannon bone.

The surgery was conducted with the mare conscious and standing, but heavily sedated to give the best possible chance of recovery.

A few days later Miss Tiggy was back in Lucinda Russell’s Kinross yard on three months box rest.

Continued below…

‘One For Arthur’s done Scotland proud’: Lucinda Russell becomes fourth female trainer to win the Grand National

The winning connections of Grand National hero One For Arthur reflect on a day they will never forget

Grand National hero out for the season with injury

Trainer Lucinda Russell said the horse’s welfare “comes first” and his owners have taken “triumph and disaster in an impeccable

“When they come back after an injury like that you’re just grateful at every stage, first that they are alive, then they can be turned out. Just to start riding again was an achievement,” said Mrs Russell.

Before the injury Miss Tiggy had run five times, being placed on three outings but never had a win.

“We were hopeful we could save her, but never imagined she would go on and win races,” said Tess Fordham, the vet who oversaw her rehabilitation.

Miss Tiggy’s next outing is at Hexham on 13 December.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Event rider Jonty Evans is recovering at home after a serious fall on Friday 27 June.

Jonty fractured three vertebrae, three ribs and suffered a brain haemorrhage, which affected his ability to move his right leg, when he was bucked off a horse in his school.

The Gloucestershire-based rider was taken to hospital in Bristol, where he stayed for over a week before being released on Monday (7 July).

He told H&H he couldn’t recall much about the accident.

Jonty now faces a significant spell on the sidelines, which will be particularly frustrating for him after a recent strong performane at Salperton, where he finished second on the eight-year-old Cooley Rorkes Drift.

“I am overwhelmed by everyone’s texts, calls, and messages — thank you doesn’t seem to be enough really,” he said.

“There will be a lengthy period of physio rehab, but the fractures and breaks will mend and my right leg is working better each day — look out guys, I’m on my way back.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Young Devon-based eventer Emily King is recovering from a fall in which she broke her pelvis.

The 14-year-old, who is the daughter of Mary King, was schooling on 5 April when six-year-old Every’s King spooked then reared.

“Next think I remember was being in the air ambulance,” Emily told H&H.

Initially doctors thought Emily was just badly bruised and Mary says she “hobbled around the house for two weeks”.

But a further week of investigations, including an MRI scan showed buckle fractures to her pelvis, a coccyx fracture and a trapped nerve.

“I’m not sure when I will be able to ride again at the moment. I’ve got a check-up in two weeks and then another in three,” said Emily.

“It’s quite annoying as I’ve a lovely new horse — Mr HiHo — and I’d wanted to get out there with him. But both horses have had to be turned out for a little holiday.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Jockey Nina Carberry will be out of action for a month after breaking her foot in a bumper at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The leading female amateur National Hunt rider was taken to hospital with a puncture wound to her left foot after riding Timesawastin to finish second in the Ladbrokes Cheltenham Bumper (Pro/Am) race.

“We are not sure what happened, but she suffered quite a severe puncture wound to her foot and will require stitches. It would appear it happened during the race,” said clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer.

But Miss Carberry told the Racing Post a piece of the rail had punctured her left boot and foot.

“When I got to hospital it was discovered that I had dislocated my little toe and broken a bone in my foot,” she said.

She had a minor operation and will be off work for four weeks.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now