Twenty-one years ago event rider Mark Davies died as a result of an accident at the Burghley Horse Trials. Horse riding is one of the most dangerous sports there is; riders are paralysed at a rate of two a month. But what is it about this sport that keeps us jumping into the saddle? Even though I was brought up on a farm, I started riding pretty late in my life and I’ve had quite a few hairy moments. I know the feeling of panic that explodes with a bolting horse or the taste of trailing dirt as your galloping wonder leaves you for dust.

I haven’t been able to lift my left arm in quite the same way since I took part in the Only Fools on Horses programme in 2006. The title was very apt, as myself and a few other willing celebrities were not only tested for our riding skills over challenging show jumps live on BBC One, but also for our determination, bottle and rate of recovery after many risky falls. It was like going into battle, with everyone on the edge of their saddles wondering who was next to fall off. The first to come a cropper was Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, who only lasted two days before being thrown from Scooby, landing in a hefty heap with a broken arm.

I had two memorable dismounts during the three-week ordeal. The first came a week before the show began, when taking a double fence with my horse Peter while learning to gauge the amount of leg on. I needed to convince him that going over this mammoth obstacle was a good idea. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, I didn’t give enough and I went over the fence alone and slightly ahead of my left arm, which was dislocated at the shoulder in the process. I couldn’t lift it above my chin for the remainder of the competition.

If we weren’t in jodhpurs we were in rehab. Nicky Chapman acquired the biggest bruise I had ever seen, Ruby Wax looked like one of the opponents from a Rocky film, and Paul Nicholas remained in a riding position even when off the horse, simply because he couldn’t stand up!
We loved it in a masochistic way; every night, as we lived together in our converted stable, we laughed at the day’s events. Peter, my horse, kept me guessing right up until that last fence on the last night in the final. The title was within our grasp; we had a clear round with the fastest time and we were flying. But soon I was flying too, soaring through the air. I peeled myself off the arena floor and I realised the only thing we would take from the final would be two cracked ribs. Peter looked as apologetic and downhearted as me.

Over last few years I have grown very fond of horses and have jumped back into the saddle for another go. But what of those who aren’t fortunate enough to ride again? Well, after Mark Davies’ tragic accident, his parents set up a charity to help others who have been affected by equestrian incidents. So far the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund has provided more than £1m worth of assistance to those injured and their families, helping riders from all walks of life.

To coincide with the 21st year of MDIRF, the charity has launched its Poundcatcher campaign, which aims to get everyone in the equestrian community to donate £1.With close to £4bn a year spent on equestrianism in our country, this seems like a small price to pay for the comfort of knowing that help is there if you need it.

This feature was taken from issue 26 of Countryfile Magazine. To make sure you never miss an issue subscribe today.

MORE FROM MATT BAKER ON WWW.BBCCOUNTRYFILEMAGAZINE.COM:

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