AFTER suffering a broken neck in a riding accident, a member of Dursley’s Tumpy Green Riding Club was visited by her horse in hospital this week.

Alvina Shiel, 68, was injured when she fell from Troy while jumping over fences at a stables in Clapton in Gordano.

She was taken to Southmead Hospital with a broken neck and spinal cord injury, which left her with no feeling below her elbows, although she is now showing some small signs of recovery.

Alvina is an experienced horse-woman and has been riding with Troy for the past two years. “Mum and Troy have an incredible bond,” said Alvina’s daughter, Shelley.

“Since the accident Troy has been quite sad. “He’s really been missing my mum, usually they see each other every day.”

In a light-hearted, but not serious way, it was suggested that Troy should visit Alvina in the hospital.

But then the idea started to gain ground, and Alvina’s family and friends worked with Southmead’s ICU team to make a visit happen.

And on Tuesday, August 27, Alvina and Troy were reunited.

“We brought him to the hospital in a horse box and then he had to wait for 20 minutes before mum came down,” said Shelley.

“Finally we walked him down through the car park to meet mum.

“She started calling to him and then his whole face changed.

“It was a really magical moment,” she said.

“The day after the accident, mum’s surgeon warned her that she may never walk again.

“But mum’s determined she’s going to ride him again one day, and wants to prove the surgeon wrong.

“We’re going to keep Troy ticking over until she’s ready.

“Mum’s always been really active, always on the go.

“Until the accident, she used to help me with my cleaning company.

“She’s quite frustrated in herself, and there’ve been ups and downs. 

“But she can now wiggle her left toes and move her arms.

“In just a couple of weeks, that’s a good improvement,” said Shelley.

After Alvina’s condition has stabilised, she will be transferred to the spinal injuries unit in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

“Then she’ll be able to start the next chapter in her recovery,” said Shelley.

Alvina and Shelley have been riding for years and are both members of the Tumpy Green Riding Club in Dursley, which is planning a number of events to raise awareness about the accident.

“We joined Tumpy Green two years ago and are normally there most weekends,” said Shelley.

“Everybody’s very supportive there, they’re like a second family.”

The team at Tumpy Green have been making a series of mini videos to keep Alvina entertained in the hospital.

Last year, Alvina and Shelley took part in a fancy dress event, dressed as two ducks.

The videos, referring back to this, feature two soft toy ducks, having fun with the stables’ horses, and going on various adventures.