Amateur event rider Sandra Wharton competes at BE90 with her mare, Townsend Pink Champagne, affectionately known as Pinkie. But in November 2022, a training accident left Sandra with a badly broken collarbone, an injury that impacted both her physical wellbeing and her confidence.
While practicing their show jumping at home, a striding error caused both horse and rider to fall. Though Pinkie was unhurt, Sandra’s collarbone suffered severe displacement that eventually required surgery. Prolonged delays before her operation resulted in muscle atrophy, leaving her struggling to regain strength.
Inspired by hearing Nicola Wilson’s story, Sandra reached out to the British Eventing Support Trust to see if we could help. Our team recommended and funded physiotherapy sessions with Adam at Injury Armour, where he provided tailored exercises to rebuild strength and mobility. Sandra credits Adam’s support and expertise as being instrumental in her overcoming both the physical and mental effects of her injury.
With Adam’s help, Sandra returned to the saddle by April 2023, progressing steadily back to jumping and clinics. When we last spoke to her, she was preparing for the 2024 season and excited at the thought of being back competing.
“I am determined to have the best season possible and can’t thank the team at the British Eventing Support Trust enough for their generous support.”