'I never thought we would qualify after his injury'

A North East showjumper has overcome huge obstacles to win his 'golden ticket' to the Horse of the Year Show.

- By EMILY GRAY

Danny Nicholson and his horse Jarley VI are counting down to the most prestigious event in the equestrian calendar at the NEC, Birmingham, on October 8-12.

Danny, from Swalwell, Gateshead will take on the cream of Britain's showjumpers after qualifying for HOYS, as the 27-year-old who first sat on a pony as a toddler is going from strength to strength in his showjumping career.

The achievement came against all the odds as his hopes of qualifying appeared to be left in tatters when Jarley suffered a freak accident in his stable.

The chestnut gelding got his leg tangled in his haynet and the harsh material ripped open his foreleg, leaving him needing 30 stitches.

"I had only owned him for eight weeks before he suffered the injury which left a deep wound above his hoof, so I'd only sat on him a few times before we qualified," said Danny.

But after six weeks out of action, the wound healed “much quicker” than Danny thought it would.