Rider returns home 19 months after life-changing fall
A rider left unable to walk or talk after youths attacked her horse with stones has finally been able to return home to her family after a 19-month stay in hospital.
Rotherham-based Lindsey Broomhead was riding her horse Murphy in 2014 (17 May) in Wickersley when he was spooked by a group of teenagers throwing stones at him.
Lindsey fell from the 16.1hh piebald cob x Shire and was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital.
Doctor’s conducted life saving surgery on Lindsey’s brain, but she was left unable to walk or talk. She now communicates by typing on an Ipad.
“It was my horse Murphy’s birthday so I decided to go down our private lane to take him on a birthday ride,” Lindsey told H&H.
“Three youths greeted us as we came back. Murphy got pelted with stones and threw me off before running back to yard.
“My family was told my condition was critical.”
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Following 19 months of rehabilitation in hospital, Lindsey was able to return home last month in time for Christmas to spend time with her two children, Kayden and Corey, and her parents.
“It’s amazing seeing my kids daily and having movie nights is great,” she said.
Murphy is being looked after by Lindsey’s friend Sarah-Jane Binder-Swash, who runs the yard where he is kept.
“I have been able to see Murphy a few times since the accident,” added Lindsey.
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.