Horse rider resuscitated three times after fall gets dream job

Hannah Benson, from Great Bedwyn near Marlborough, spent her childhood riding horses and claims it was her reason for getting out of bed every morning.

But she was just 27 years old when she suffered a horrific fall from a racehorse while working as an exercise rider in April 2019.

The fall left Hannah in critical condition with a traumatic brain injury and after three resuscitation attempts, she was placed in an induced coma for 10 days.

Even after coming out of a coma, she faced months of rehabilitation for brain damage which has left her with long-term fatigue, memory loss and concentration problems. 

Hannah spent months recovering from the traumatic brain injury which caused her to be resuscitated three times. (Image: Animal News Agency)

But while most patients like Hannah would be put off horses for life, the experience only reaffirmed her deep love for the animals.

“I can’t remember anything from the month before the injury but I just knew I wanted to get back on a horse again," said Hannah.

"Racing was an industry I had been in since 2015 and it's what I knew and what made me happy, so it was devastating to think all that could be over.”

Hannah had spent years riding racehorses before her fall in 2019. (Image: Animal News Agency)

Hannah had been told by the hospital consultant that it would be a year before she could get back on a horse, but just four months later she pulled herself up into the saddle and 11 months on she rode a racehorse for the first time.

It was through her recovery that she discovered her love of helping horses to recover from their own injuries.

“I was actually at a reiki session which was helping my recovery, and I met a lady called Wendy Vaughan who is a renowned Veterinary Physiotherapist," said Hannah.

"She told me that she was setting up an academy to train others, so I waited until that all started and was one of the first to join the qualifications. 

“At first I was really worried that doing the course would leave me mentally exhausted and affect my ability to focus on my riding and the gym, as both of those things keep me on an even keel."

Hannah continues to work on her recovery and has her eyes firmly set on a career in Veterinary Physiotherapy. (Image: Animal News Agency)

The now 32-year-old plans to become a fully qualified Veterinary Physiotherapist, and is completing the first part of the Academy of Veterinary Physiotherapy’s qualification programme.

“With the help of this course, I have been given a focus again," she said.

"This has provided me with a chance to start a new chapter using something I am passionate about on animals I care a great deal about."