OVER this Christmas and into the New Year, event rider Ella Boyle might consider wrapping herself in cotton wool so she can avoid the injuries which blighted the early months of both 2021 and 2022.

While Ella’s injury last year came when she was on the ground taking a horse off the walker, this time around she had a fall which resulted in her breaking her pelvis in four places while she also displaced her symphysis. Thankfully, she is on the road to recovery and was among the spectators at The Meadows last Saturday.

“I’ve been back on my feet for a few weeks but have only just now fully ditched the crutches,” said Ella who is back coaching as her recovery continues. “I’m now very much focusing with my physios on getting back in the saddle as soon as possible. I hope to be riding sometime in April and then gradually get back out competing when I’m ready.

“I’m excited about getting back on all the horses but, if asked to decide who I’m looking forward to competing the most, I’d have to say it’s a close call between Catriona and George (Grafenstolz Distincton) as I hope they’ll both look after me and be very exciting for this year.

“The Meadows was my first outing really with one of the younger horses with Adam (Haugh) on board. I’m very lucky to have Adam to take over and keep some of the horses going while I’m off. Big thanks have to go to him and, of course, to my ever supportive family.”

Also at The Meadows last Sunday was Nikita Kidd who suffered concussion and fractured two vertebrae in her back in a fall at the second leg of the Baileys Horse Feeds flexi eventing in January.

The 18-year-old has returned to one of her jobs, that of a carer in Hamilton Nursing Home, but has not returned to the saddle and will not do so until her surgeon hopefully gives her the go-ahead late next month. In meantime, Nikita’s Irish Sport Horse mare Adastra On A Whisper is being kept fit and on the go by her mother Kelly.