Ashley Farrant set to make comeback

Jockey Ashley Farrant is making a triumphant comeback to the world of racing a year after his lower back was crushed in a horrific fall.

Experts were convinced he would have to retire from riding after the accident at Larkhill point-to-point course in Wiltshire last January.

But the 29-year old from Exmoor has made them eat their words by getting back in the saddle.

“A lot of people thought it was over for me, but I never thought for one minute that I would never ride again, “said Ashley, who has worked with father-and-son trainers Martin and David Pipe in Wellington, Somerset.

“When I fell at the eighth fence that day I told the ambulance staff to take me back because I had another race. But they took me to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.”

Ashley found himself barely able to move. “I couldn’t walk for four weeks and even then I couldn’t do much for months. Dr Colin Oglivy, my specialist at Musgrove Park was brilliant. He was always very honest with me and explained everything. Then one day Dr Oglivy said I would be fit to ride. Since then I’ve just been building up my strength day by day and I feel ready.”

Ashley is hoping to make his comeback ride at the Great Trethew in Cornwall in January.His biggest victory was on Martin Pipe’s Dom Samourai in the Greenhalls Grant National Trial two years ago.

He has also qualified six horses with the Dulverton East and Silverton Foxhounds which he will be training in his own right for the point-to-point season.” –