Equestrian: Back on the horse with a win

COMPETITION: Simon Wilson (left), riding McMillans Midway Smooth Dude, was just beaten by his wife Claire Wilson on McMillans Tipsy at Saturday's Equipage Grand Prix. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Not letting a broken leg get in her way, Claire Wilson got back on her horse and won the Equipage Grand Prix last Saturday.

Not only did Mrs Wilson come back to claim first place in the Wairoa A&P Show event, she beat her husband Simon.

The Waipukarau woman said she attended the show every year with her family and often competed against her husband in showjumping events.

Despite breaking her thigh bone last June, she was not going to let this year be any different.

"I've had my eye on the show for the past six months," she said.

"It was one of the first times I rode at a decent level so [winning] was a great way to come back."

Mrs Wilson said at the start of the day she had just been happy to be competing.

But when it was just her and her husband in the final rounds, she said she watched him compete and thought she could do some speedy turns to win.

"I just beat him ... I think he thought I was just going to go gently," she said.

She wasn't scared to compete.

"When it happened I was on a young horse at home, on [Saturday] I was on my old favourite [horse] who had competed at that level before, so I was in good hands," she said.

Following the accident Mrs Wilson was the cheerleader for her husband and children when they competed, which was "the next best thing to riding".

But with the advice from her doctors and physiotherapist, Mrs Wilson had got back into it, and begun training.

She said she had been a little bit rusty at first, as she had had a rod inserted into her thigh and spent three months on crutches.

"Training was more about getting me right than the horses, getting me strong enough and confident," she said.

"I was a bit weak in that leg, but the more I ride the stronger I'll get ... the weakness was the only thing that's held me back until now."