CASE STUDIES
Here are a just a few examples of people we have helped over the past few years:
Philippa Russell:
27 year old Philippa Russell from High Halden, Kent is just one of those to have benefited. The Fund was there to provide advice when she experienced a bleed on the brain, following a fall whilst practising polocrosse out in the paddock.
“To this day, we don’t know why or how she fell. The going was a bit slippery and the horse returned to the yard with mud on it’s saddle. It all happened so quickly. I had a friend at the time who had incurred a head injury from riding and whom the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund had helped and she put us in touch with the charity,” explains Philippa’s mother, Sally.
The accident left her very weak down her right side and some double vision. That was in August 2006 and three years on, Philippa has recovered enough to take on a new challenge and start to get back into work. So, the Fund has stepped in to help Philippa retrain as a nursery nurse. For about 8 hours a week, she attends a nursery in Benenden to qualify for an NVQ Level 2 in Childrens’ Care, Learning and Development.
Sadly, the family doesn’t have horses any more but Philippa is enjoying her new interest: “I work with the under twos and really enjoy watching them develop and learn new things. Without the help and encouragement of The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund, I wouldn’t have been able to do this so I can’t thank them enough for being there.
“I don’t remember anything about the accident but I do know that we would have been lost without their help,” ends Philippa.
Elizabeth Cunliffe:
As a result of a horse fall while out hacking, 59 year old Elizabeth from Cornwall found herself left with severe spinal injuries.
Her daughter, Kerry had recently featured in a Your Horse magazine training clinic article, the photos from which had been spotted and used by The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund, to feature in their 21st Anniversary campaign literature.
“That was how I knew about the Fund, never even dreaming that I would have reason to call them myself. Mum subsequently went through a risky operation to drill into her spinal column and has been unable to work for the past few months. The Fund gave us valuable guidance and their support has enabled her to hire a mobility scooter. I am not sure where we’d be without them.” explains Kerry.
Louise Drinkwater:
Show jumping groom, Louise Drinkwater, had a fall from one of her boss’s show jumpers in which she sustained two severe fractures to her ankle. She was operated on several days after her accident to secure the fractures with plates and screws and 6 weeks later her cast was removed; but then the NHS care seemed to stop. She was initially offered no after care treatment and no professional support in what she describes as the most important and the scariest stage of her recovery.
The MDIRF was able to advise Louise on how to access physio through the NHS. At the time, Louise commented:
“I want to say a huge thank you for giving me much needed advice on where to turn next. I felt totally lost before speaking to you and as if there was no longer anyone there to help me.
“The work that the MDIRF does is invaluable, not only for people who have their lives changed forever by accidents, but also for riders like me, who just required a bit of advice and a nudge in the right direction.
“I am so grateful and when I’m back working, I will be making a donation and supporting your cause 100%. Thanks again.”
Lancashire Show Rider hoping to return to saddle despite serious spinal injuries
32 year old, mother of two, Caroline Wareing, suffered a nasty fall in the show ring at the Staffordshire County Show in May 2009. Caroline, from Thistleton (Lancs) was riding her 4 year old, Whalton Pearly Queen in the Novice Show Hack class, when the horse appeared to be startled by something and slipped, losing her balance and going over backwards onto Caroline. She explains:
“I had this horse from a foal and she was beautifully quiet and impeccably behaved in the ring. Two weeks previously, I had won the Novice Show Hack class at Windsor and she subsequently qualified for HOYS (with Robert Walker). She didn’t do anything wrong at The Staffordshire and it is the sort of accident that could happen to any rider at any time.
“I was really stuck and it was a fellow show rider, Lucy Fisher, who suggested I speak to The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund. They were a life saver, offering to support me through my early physio and helping me to start saving for an FES (Functional Electronic Stimulation) bike, the equipment which has been helping to put Claire Lomas on the road to recovery.
Caroline went through FES treatment last August which proved successful in stimulating the nerves and muscles and bodes well for her long term rehabilitation using a FES bike. It has given her fresh hope that she can get back into the saddle soon and has ambitions to compete in para-dressage and ultimately to complete a New York Marathon on wheels.
Lesley:
“At the beginning of January 2008 my daughters and I were eagerly making plans for the year ahead. Little did we know what was around the corner, which following a horrific riding accident in March, resulted in me being airlifted to the Salisbury Spinal Unit with a major spinal injury leaving me paraplegic with two dependant young children.
“Rushing around as all us mums do never would I ever of imagined that only a short while later I would by lying in a hospital bed for 6 months. The whole ordeal has been a roller coaster of emotions above all when you are told you will never walk again, yet still trying to be strong for your children. Every day is one I get through for my family.
“The support I received has been amazing but above all I would like to say a huge thank you to the Mark Davies Injured Rider’s Fund for all their help what an absolutely amazing charity and group of people. It is so easy to turn a blind eye to the amount of work this charity do but from one simple email to their website from my hospital bed I have been blessed by their hands-on approach to helping me and my family.
“They have not only enabled me to have hydrotherapy at The Pinder Centre near Winchester but donated money towards special equipment required to make life easier for me and my children.
“Before becoming mum to them, I was a competitor in my younger days competing at BHS Eventing and what happened to me could happen to anyone at anytime. No one knows what life holds around the corner which is why I think every horse owner should be supporting this amazing charity.”
THANK YOU TO LESLEY FOR HER KIND LETTER OF THANKS SENT TO HORSE & HOUND MAGAZINE
Louise:
“I had heard of the MDIRF but thought that it only supported elite riders. How wrong could I have been?
I got kicked in the head when the horse I was leading spooked. I had no other insurances at the time so the MDIRF turned out to be a real saviour. They helped me with funding and support, also contributing to professional medical consultations which have helped me to deal with my injuries and give me hope. Without them, I would have had to sell my special horse. Although still not fully recovered I am starting to re-build my life and return to work part-time.”
Lee:
“Following complications in hospital after a riding accident, I nearly lost my leg and the early days were a struggle. I’d left two young children at a home and my husband to run the business single-handedly. I felt overwhelmed by the thought of dealing with the day-to-day routine and I did not know how we were going to cope with no immediate family to call on.
“The support I received from the MDIRF was priceless – both before I came home from hospital and afterwards with funding for extra physio. They were there every step of the way with reassurance and moral support, willing me to make as complete recovery as possible. My heartfelt thanks to you all.”
Belinda:
“I was involved in a riding accident when I was found on the road with severe head injuries. I was told I would never work again or walk or talk properly.
“The MDIRF helped me through the worst times and after two years I managed to regain my independence. After taking a few jobs to make ends meet, I decided to start my own business selling garlic and olives and now employ 6 people.
“Without the MDIRF I would never have moved forward and would have been written off, as per the original predictions. Thank you to the MDIRF for all their help in the past and for being there for the future.”
Laurie:
“I have spent a considerable time bedridden, hospitalised and rehabilitating from remedial surgery, following my riding accident some 15 years ago. I have been confined to a wheelchair and it was the MDIRF who stepped in with funding for an upgraded, motorised chair which enables me to reach items and shelves and move around the home. Thank you MDIRF for giving me back my independence.”
Marion:
“I broke my neck in a riding accident in July 2006 and the new wheelchair provided by the MDIRF has made life a lot easier – not just for me, but for my husband, Willie. I will always be indebted to their kind support and generosity.”
