Woman back in saddle after horror injury

Susi Sadler's face was sliced open after her horse Rudi bolted, hurling her into a post-and-rail fence.

Despite the ordeal she has summoned up the confidence to ride the horse again.

Mrs Sadler, of Mirfield, near Dewsbury, admitted that Rudi, a four-year-old, had a history of biting, kicking, rearing and bolting before the accident in April 2009.

She said: "To say that Rudi's behaviour was a challenge would be an understatement.

"Everyone was telling me my horse was a danger. His last chance was to go away for some professional training. Rudi's behaviour was turned around in a matter of weeks.

"Before I knew it I was back on board and riding my horse down the main road."

Speaking about her recovery and surgery, Mrs Sadler said: "I had suffered nerve damage, which meant I lost the use of one side of my face and mouth.

"This, coupled with a lot of swelling, badly torn gums, loosened teeth and a further 60 stitches inside my mouth, made eating, drinking and even talking a real challenge."

Next month, she is off to Mongolia to take part in a gruelling 600-mile sponsored trek to raise funds for Operation Smile, a charity that provides free surgery to repair cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities in children and the Mercy Corps which tries to turn crises into opportunities for change.