Back in the saddle

Julie Flintoff and her mother Kay share a love of horses. PHOTO/ Michael Cunningham

Northland dressage rider Julie Flintoff was kicked in the head by her horse Belladonna. She lay on the ground bleeding, her face shattered by the powerful blow. The 23-year-old lost the sight in her right eye but her positive attitude has seen her return to the saddle, play a major role in her netball team’s success and run the Kerikeri half marathon. Julie and her mum Kay talk to reporter Kristin Edge about the journey.

JULIE FLINTOFF squelches through the paddock, her gumboots sticking in the thick mud. An imposing bay mare lifts her head, whickers and bustles up to the fence to greet her master.

The bond between horse and rider is evident as Bella, a seven-year-old hanoverian, nuzzles into Julie's jacket pockets looking for treats. Julie rubs the mare's face and scratches her equine friend's ears.

It's hard to imagine this horse could have nearly ended Julie's life.

The only clue to the trauma that led to Julie losing her eye is a subtle pink scar curving around her right eye.

The former Kerikeri High School student explains she feels no malice towards her horse and it was just "one of those things".

Just two days after her 21st birthday, in July 2013, Julie was leading her trusty steed towards the stables and was on the lawn only metres from the back door of the farm house when Bella kicked out. Julie was struck in the face with the full force of the hoof.

She fell to the ground, blood pouring from her eye socket, cheek bone, nose and jaw.

She recalls little of what happened.

But mum Kay was leading another horse and turned to see the terrifying seconds that changed her daughter's life forever.

"I saw it all. The horse was right up in the air and kicked out. I thought it had got her right in the middle of her face," she says placing her hand across her face to demonstrate. "I heard it too."

Kay cringes at the memory.

"Julie just fell face-first onto the ground ... she didn't put out her hands, nothing."

The two horses, sensing something was not right, careered around the lawn. Instinctively, Kay lay across her daughter's body to protect her.

"She was on the ground and she tried to get up. I made her go back down to the ground and I screamed at the farrier to get the ambulance and the helicopter. The horses were careering around and were spooked out. I was trying not to panic.

"Because Julie was talking I thought her brain was still working. But I was still scared because people can go downhill rapidly and I didn't want anything to happen and her not to know I loved her."

Julie says: "Yeah, I remember mum was lying over the top saying 'I love you'."

Julie Flintoff lost the sight in her right eye after her horse Belladonna kicked her in the face. PHOTO/ Michael Cunningham

Emergency services converged on the Kerikeri beef farm and the Northland Electricity rescue helicopter made a mercy dash to Whangarei Hospital with Julie and Kay before an immediate transfer to Auckland Hospital.

The next day at Greenlane Hospital, Julie had urgent surgery on her eye - one of three surgeries, none of which could save her badly damaged eye, which had to be removed. She now has a fake blue eye which is a very good match to her left.

An 11-hour operation was needed to rebuild her shattered face, which required braces to be wired through her gums to realign her jaw.

Four months later she was back in the saddle. And less than a year later she was representing New Zealand in an international dressage competition.

SITTING at the kitchen table, Julie talks about the two-year journey. Her attitude to the life-changing trauma is inspiring.

"For me I couldn't change what had happened and I came to accept that almost straight away," Julie says, brushing aside her blonde fringe.

"I think that is the biggest hurdle for most people to overcome, to find peace with what has happened and to accept a new way of life. Personally I could not see the point in feeling sorry for myself. After all I had been through I was still here, I didn't have any major brain injury, and still had a functioning body with all limbs attached.

"I have found a lot of gratitude during my recovery and I realise how much worse it could have been. I have always been very determined and I don't like to give up."

Back in the saddle Julie Flintoff representing New Zealand on mount Belladonna. PHOTO/Libby Law

Kay says the first time Julie rode after the accident was both nerve-racking and a very proud moment.

"There was no way she could get knocked or have a fall. I was just so nervous. But seeing her back out there riding was just amazing ... it bought a tear to my eye."

The recovery process didn't stop when it came to riding. A successful netball player through her school years, Julie got back on the courts this winter season as a goalshoot for A-grade Hardy's Black side in the Kerikeri competition.

She caved in to repeated requests from a former high school coach.

"I told her I hadn't played for four years and I only had one eye."

She played defence in her first game but was soon back into the attacking circle, putting her 187cm lean frame to optimum use - and had 100 per cent shooting stats.

She jokes: "Once I had my eye in, I was shooting from everywhere."

And, just because she could, she also ran the Kerikeri half marathon.

While working part-time at a local bakery and cafe, Julie is studying sports training and development through correspondence at the Southern Institute of Technology.

It allows her to keep riding and working to her ultimate goal.

Her dream is to ride at the Olympics. But she's realistic about going to the Olympics and being New Zealand-based.

"It's a big ask. You have to have a load of money."

Looking closer to home, she wants to compete in Australia at a high level.

And what would she say to some one suffering a major injury?

"Challenge yourself, don't be afraid of pushing yourself to do the things you love and to try new things out. People need to find that spark and drive for something they love and do it before it's too late."