Whilst we have been training we decided to ride from Buckfastleigh to Princetown following the abbots way. Even though we were following the OS map for the correct route, my horse fell into a bog up to his belly, this was on a well used wide pathway, he managed to keep me aboard and pull us both out. Then further on we had to cross a small stream but because of the bog incident my horse was worried so I dismounted and was leading him over, because he trusted me so much he likes to follow my footsteps exactly and as I was moving out of his way I stumbled just as Twosox was crossing so he also stumbled and we both fell, unfortunately he fell on top of me so I was crushed underneath his 470kg of bodyweight. Bless him he pulled himself off of me without stepping on me and I just thought to myself I had broken my back. Twosox walked out the way and started grazing and I realised I could move  so carefully sat up. The pain was excruciating. My sister Naomi had at the time got broken ribs from a fall she had had a couple of weeks prior so I knew she couldn’t lead my horse whilst riding hers to get to princetown where her partner was going to meet us for refreshments, I wasn’t sure if I was able to walk let alone ride but I just couldn’t face the stress of worrying about my sister and my horse if I called the air ambulance.

I have Ehlers Danlos syndrome and fibromyalgia so I am in constant pain and because of this I do have the ability to cope with high levels of pain so I knew that if I could just get on Twosox again I could get to Princetown and then if needed get an ambulance from there.

I decided I could manage to lie in the car and then at least I would know my sister and the horses were back safe, then I would go to A&E, the ambulance service has so much to deal with so unless I cannot move I wont call them if I have a way to get there myself.

I felt like a cartoon character that had been flattened and then re-inflated!!

Devon Air Ambulance is the charitable trust which raises the funds to keep two emergency air ambulances flying in and around the county of Devon. Flying seven days a week, one of the aircraft now flies until 2am.We are proud to be independent of Government funding; Every penny raised is from the generosity of the communities, businesses and friends of Devon.Thank you for your support - it really does help to save lives!