Horse riding: Rebecca back on top after horrific leg break

8:48am Saturday 16th August 2008

A GIRL who nearly lost a foot in an horrific riding accident has returned to the saddle in style by winning a series of show classes.

Rebecca Bond, 12, and her pony Jed claimed the reserve supreme champion honour at the National Festival of Champions after taking on thousands of riders from across the country.

It marked an incredible comeback by the determined youngster, from Oakworth, who suffered a double fracture in April after her leg was crushed after an attempted jump went badly wrong.

The story is even more remarkable considering medics never thought Rebecca, who last year won the supreme ridden championship of the North West, could be born after mum Janice underwent spinal surgery.

Janice said: "We were thrilled and so proud of her and the pony at the weekend.

"There was concern at the hospital about whether she would be able to walk again, never mind ride, but she has really fought and worked hard at physio and riding to get going again."

Rebecca, who attends Parkside School, said: "It went really well and I enjoyed it a lot - some of the riders have won competitions all over the country.

"I don't think about the accident when I'm riding now, I just focus on what I'm supposed to do."

She and Jed, whose full name is Genesis Chinook, first won the ridden Hunter class during the National Festival, held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on August 2 and 3.

They then claimed the Champion Show Pony class and the overall first day Supreme Champion prize.

The following day they returned to be named champion show Hunter, reserve champion show pony and then finally reserve supreme champion.

Rebecca, who has been riding since she was two, suffered her injury riding a friend's horse at a competition at Croft Top riding centre in Accrington.

The animal hit the jump frame and sandwiched Rebecca's leg between the barrrier and its body, dislocating her foot.

As Rebecca, a member of the Shibden Dale club near Halifax, tried to gain her balance again she slipped off and landed on the already-injured leg, breaking it twice.

Janice said: "It was horrible. She had to have an emergency operation. There was a risk she could've lost the foot but luckily they could get back into place.

"But within a couple of days of having her cast off she was back riding. She was quite worried but Jed is such a lovely character and she trusts him a lot."

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