Kiwi trainer Craig Ritchie partner Kate Nipperess was involved in a freak accident when the horse she was riding collided head-on with a riderless horse at Warwick Farm trackwork on Thursday morning.
Nipperess was transported to Liverpool Hospital and assessed where she had suspected fractures to her ribs, pelvis, lung injury, back and a tingling sensation in her feet. She was then transferred to the Spinal Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital for further treatment for a displaced vertebra which was placing pressure on her spinal cord.
Nipperess underwent surgery on Thursday and has had some good news with doctors ruling out the need for a second spinal operation.
While Racing NSW safety officer Maurice Logue was at the hospital on Friday, doctors advised Nipperess her spinal cord now had space around it after the operation to release pressure caused by a displaced vertebra.
Logue reported scans showed a clot on her spinal cord which was expected to dissolve given time.
Although she is still unable to move her legs, Nipperess was starting to feel pressure on them. The doctors have put pressure sock on her legs.
"She was in good spirits and the incident was a freak accident, her partner Craig Rtchie said.
We wish her a speedy recovery.
