Riding to win isn't a painless business

Diary of a point-to-pointer

The Greenall brothers had a difficult week at Cheltenham. Tom, 25, had some fancied rides lined up for the week but came to grief on Heathcliffe, trained by Richard Lee, in the Kim Muir Chase. He suffered a dislocated knee with damage to the ligaments, signifying a month on the sidelines.

He missed out on riding Trust Fund in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, a horse who may head for the Aintree equivalent. The ride was taken by his younger brother Oliver, 23, finishing a slightly disappointing mid- division. Oddly, Oliver suffered a similar fate to his brother when riding Heathcliffe at last year's Cheltenham festival. He has won on him four times but was unseated and suffered serious damage to his spleen. It was six weeks before he was fully recovered.

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Both Tom and Oliver have ridden for me in the past. They are a popular choice with my owners thanks to their professionalism and ability to judge every horse as an individual. Oliver rode a comfortable winner for us at Cartmel last season on a tricky horse.

I find a decent amateur jockey is equally as capable as any professional while being keen and hungry to win on whatever horse they ride. They may try harder on a unfancied animal than some successful professionals would. Glad to make the most of any opportunity offered, they are willing to risk taking a chance because they aren't riding the favourite in the next.

I had a serious fall in 2003 at Market Rasen which saw me airlifted to hospital where I spent a few nights doped up on morphine. Apparently I was fortunate not to have severed my spinal cord and although the nerves in my arms have been affected I consider myself extremely fortunate. I was left with a bulging disk in my neck which caused my spinal cord to thicken. Infrequently it bothers me and I can turn so stiff that turning my head is painful due to a bundle of knots in my neck muscles.

How overjoyed I was last season to find a chiropractor who seemed to work miracles, giving me a new lease of life. Kate Simpson practices in Wetherby and began by attending a point-to-point to watch me ride so she could understand how I use my muscles. She then packed me off for x-rays and demanded MRI scans allowing her to locate the exact problems I had and deal with them.

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I had spent hundreds of pounds and travelled the country over the last six years visiting consultants to surgeons in order to remedy my problem, so finding Kate was like wishing on a star. I have recommended her to so many of my broken-up friends she is now over- subscribed and cannot understand why we choose to pursue such a damaging pastime despite the amount of business she gets from it.

Kate is due to get married in a month and tonight is her hen night. If I am in one piece after the Bramham point-to-point today at Ripon I will be joining her later for the odd glass to celebrate. I have three Maidens to ride so I hopefully won't arrive hobbling into the restaurant.

Poor old On Y Va, my favourite horse, has fractured his knee. Luckily it is only a minor injury. He should make a full recovery but too late in the season to run, so alas we wait for next year.

Fortunately, once the ground dries up I have a couple of Open horses left with four legs still. Be warned, I hear snow is forecast on Monday.

Yorkshire champion lady jockey Jo Foster trains horses at Brookleigh Farm, Menston, West Yorkshire.