The 3-times Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer slipped on concrete while rounding up her geese on Saturday evening (25 January), breaking her right ankle and 2 bones in her leg.
Hen is reported to be in good spirits after the operation
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Hen, 67, had an operation in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford later that night to pin and plate the ankle.
“It is just a terrible shock,” she said. “I could see there was something wrong because the foot was facing the other way.
“I was crawling around and shouting for people. The ambulance was very quick in coming and they put me in a cast and took me off,” she added
An x-ray of the ankle before the operation
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
It has been a traumatic month for Hen. Her husband — former champion jump jockey Terry Biddlecombe died on 5 January.
Hen described him as “not only my husband but also the best friend that I will ever have”.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Terry’s life will be celebrated at the Cheltenham Festival in March and Hen is determined to be there — though it sounds as if she will need to use a wheelchair.
She said: “I think they will definitely keep me in [hospital] for another week because they don’t want to risk any infection and I won’t be able to put any weight on the leg for 3 months.”
Mick Channon — who took on Hen’s jumpers on her retirement from racing — tweeted this morning (29 January):
“Saw Hen last night. She’s in great form considering and sends her thanks to all.”
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
