With a serious blow to the back of his foreleg it was obvious that my vet was needed and once scanned it was confirmed that there was a mass of bruising around the tendon sheath. Thankfully with no damage to the actual tendon I was now in for the long haul of reducing the bruising and getting my lovely gelding fixed.

But here was the problem. Busy running a business, living half an hour away from the yard and with my injured horse needing controlled exercise three times daily it was obvious that I could not do this on my own. I contacted a friend who would take him for 6 weeks as she had just taken over a yard with a lovely indoor walker where he would start his recovery. After 6 weeks a second scan showed he was recovering well and should now start to do some trot work, twice a day. So, it was suggested by my vet that we sent him to Pippa and Richard Woodall's place in Chessington, Surrey. Now, I must say I was very nervous about sending my chap to someone I had never met before - he would live there for a further 6 weeks and they would deal with him during his recovery. Would they know how to handle him? Would they look after him? Would they care about him like I do? And the answer I was soon to find out was absolutely yes. From the moment I met Pippa I knew I had nothing to worry about.

Specialising in the rehabilitation of injured racehorses Pippa and Richard also take on injured competition horses when space allows. My boy was one of four in at that time; a resting racehorse on holiday from the track, a castration, a shattered hock and him. From the moment he arrived he seemed calm and quite easy going. There was nothing around to disturb them and it was peaceful for those who needed it the most.

The yard was not as I expected, all white walls and clinical, instead a cosy wooden stable yard with acres of grazing. Mares and foals are out in large groups surrounding the main yard and in view of the biggest walker I've ever seen! Large enough for the horses to turn round - the walker runs on timed sessions changing direction every five minutes.

His routine was the walker in the morning and afternoon for 45 mins with two lots of 2 minutes trotting for the first few days and this would increase until week six where he would be doing 4 slots of 7 minutes solid trotting in each walker session. He would, as I found out, become as fit as a fiddle! Although he was having to do what seemed a lot of controlled exercise he was able to go out every day in a round pen in a field where he could see the mares and foals that Pippa breeds in the adjoining fields. It really was the most wonderful place.

I could only get there at weekends to visit and every time I turned up unannounced my boy was either happily grazing in his pen, scoffing his ad-lib hay or snoozing! Pippa would always give me a run down of how he had been and what timings he was up to in the walker and always made me feel confident to get in my car and leave him again for another week. Although, when the alarm in her pocket sounded, she would go to the walker to either switch it to trot, get someone off or put someone else on - it really was all go.

Although my chap is priceless to me there were some incredibly valuable race horses there who were in Pippa and Richard's care and their clients as I did, rely on them to do exactly what they are paying for to get their horses back the way they want.

Thankfully on the third scan after 12 weeks we got the all clear to get him back in to ridden work, which was great. I was able to take my boy home where we could get in training for our future.

Now I know, if ever I needed my horse looked after again or he required rehabilitation, I know I would be straight on the phone to Pippa as their marvellous routine and in-depth knowledge for what they do is second to none.

Pippa also breeds for the eventing market – a small band of 9 broodmares many of them Thoroughbreds – several of whom are put to Jumbo each year and also to his sons – Jigilo and Brief Encounter. They also own a 5 year old Jumbo stallion full brother to several successful eventers who will start competing with Lucy Wiegersma this year.  They also part own a very successful young Show Jumping stallion – Wings – he was one of a handful of stallions who was fully licensed with the AES last year and in 2008 as a 5 year old won over 1030 actual 340 notional and won the 5 year old Equimat Star of the Future at the British Young Horse Championships winning a bonus of £1000!  He is exceptionally careful and consistent with a fabulous temperament and may stand at stud in 2009.

Pippa is also the UK agent for Herbal Wise Ireland. They have used the products for many years – a full range of herbal products for every need from Steady Neddy to Slut Mix.  www.herbalwise.ie

Pippa and Richard also purchased a Game Ready Equine machine in 2008 which has proved invaluable in treating leg injuries in particular – it is an ice compression unit and hugely aids healing and recovery. They have had some spectacular results with it. www.gamereadyequine.co.uk