Horse riding instructor Heather praises ‘life changing’ knee surgery

Horse riding instructor Heather Taylor, 58, from Morley in Leeds, has praised the ‘life changing’ knee surgery she had after a horse-riding accident left her fearing she would never work again. The riding accident happened in 2021 after her horse was spooked during a lesson and threw her from the saddle.

Heather said:

I heard a loud crack. I thought I can never ride horses again.

The accident had resulted in her breaking her shinbone into multiple pieces. She required an external fixator initially, and then after reconstruction, a ring fixator that stayed in place for about four to six months.

During her recovery Heather developed post traumatic arthritis, was struggling with PTSD, and unable to move without having severe pain in her knee.

Seeking a second opinion on her injury, Heather attended Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and met with Mr Lutz Koch, a Surgeon with an interest in hip and knee arthroplasty.

He said:

She was clearly looking for help and I could see that she needed total knee replacement surgery.

Mr Koch operated on Heather in September 2023 at Pontefract Hospital, carrying out a total knee replacement surgery using the Attune Knee System, which is manufactured by Leeds-based, Johnson & Johnson.

Heather said:

Two weeks after the surgery I got more feeling in my leg, I felt that I could put more weight on it. This surgery has changed my life completely.

Mr Koch recalls when he saw Heather for a follow up appointment, he could see the surgery was a success.

He said:

At around three months after surgery, she looked like a different person, she was smiling, and it seemed as if she were not in pain anymore.

Heather added:

For the first time I thought I will be able to ride again.

Since the surgery, Heather's life has been transformed. She has resumed her beloved horse-riding activities and volunteers with the charity, 'Changing Lives through Horses'.

Drawing from her own experiences, Heather helps individuals facing adversities by connecting them with the therapeutic power of horse-riding.

Driven by her newfound lease on life, Heather is currently pursuing her exams with the British Horse Society (BHS) to achieve the distinguished status of a fellow.

Her ultimate goal is to become an assessor for BHS, guiding and inspiring aspiring horse-riders on their own journeys.