Extract taken from EQy magazine - 2017 by Richard Bath

When Nikki Corstorphine fell off her horse in November 2016, she dislocated her shoulder and kneecap, and thanks to her foot getting stuck in the stirrup, broke all five tendons in her right knee, plus the ligaments. With the two sections of her leg held together by just skin and veins, her surgeon at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy quickly delivered a chilling prognosis: she would be bed-bound for a year, which would mean losing her job as a stable yard manager; and she would undergo at least six operations but even if they were successful (which was not a given) she would probably be unable to ever ride again and would walk with a limp for the rest of her life.

In bed for three days mulling over what to do, Nikki put up a Facebook post explaining what had happened and asking for someone to look after her showjumper only to be contacted by a friend suggesting she contact Professor Mackay. “The accident happened on the Tuesday, I saw Gordon on Thursday, he operated on Friday morning, InternallyBracing five ligaments in my knee. On Saturday morning I was walking around, even going up and down stairs,” said Nikki. “By Tuesday I was out of hospital. At my initial consultation Gordon said he could have me back at work within three months, which I didn’t for one minute believe, but he was right, I was back almost three months to the day – and it’s not like I was on light duties, I was working with big stallions.” Six months after her accident, Nikki was not only riding again, but back competing at showjumping again.