A HATHERLEIGH woman is determined to be back in the saddle as soon as possible despite a near tragedy last week when she was thrown from her horse and rescued unconscious from the River Lew.

Trena Brock, who is recovering at home after her ordeal, said the pleasure of being around horses made up for the occasional bad time.

'Horses have a mind of their own — they are unpredictable,' she said. 'You could have all the safest equipment in the world but something could still happen.

'It is something you have to put up with when you have horses.'

Trena and her friend Claire Colvin, both experienced horsewomen, had been out for a quiet country ride last Wednesday afternoon when Trena's horse 'Rani' panicked as they crossed a ford over the swollen River Lew near Hatherleigh.

The horse stumbled and Trena was thrown off but the situation got worse when she became entangled in the horse's back legs.

Rani kicked out knocking Trena unconscious and the strong current of the river swept her downstream.

Forgetting her fear of water and thinking only of her friend's safety, Claire plunged into the river to grab Trena and keep her head above water.

Claire's cries for help were heard by nearby residents and the Hatherleigh Fire Brigade were soon on the scene.

The 41-year-old rider, who was kept in overnight at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital after being flown there by the air ambulance, said she was 'extremely lucky' getting away with nothing more than bruising to her head, neck and face.

'The water was so fast flowing, if Claire had not been there, I probably would have drowned,' she said. 'She saved my life.

'My injuries could have been a lot worse. The force of the water and the fact I did not offer any resistance stopped me being injured further.'

Trena does not remember being kicked by her horse but said all she was worried about when she came around was that she had lost a tooth.

'I don't think I was really with it,' she said. 'I was out for about ten minutes and I was talking a load of garbage.'

The horsewoman admits she is quite tough and is not new to accidents involving horses — she suffered a broken leg when an unwell 'Rani' fell on her some time ago.

'I've had Rani for over five years and it's been a lot of fun,' she said. 'If you worry things like this might happen you would never do anything.

'Rani has always been very good through water — we have been through a lot deeper than this — it was just one of those things. There is no reasoning with a horse when it has panicked.'

When she is fully fit, Trena is all eager to get back in the saddle.

'Once you get bitten by the bug — that's it,' she added. 'It is hard work and takes all your money but when it goes right it is a lot of fun.'