Olympic Dreams: Ricky Balshaw targets October return
Last updated on .From the section Disability Sport
Shropshire Paralympic dressage rider Ricky Balshaw aims to be back training in late October after recovering from a freak riding accident.
The silver medallist in Beijing 2008 fractured his back after falling off his horse during a training session after it got spooked.
"The horse [Lenherr Rocco] went one way and I went the other," Balshaw told BBC Radio Shropshire.
"I'm out of hospital now, just trying to get back into a training routine."
Balshaw suffered two compression fractures of his spine in the accident at the end of July.
"I'm allowed to get back on a horse by late October. I need to get my strength back up after being in hospital for a week. It has hampered my training ahead of next year's Paralympics but I'm confident I can get back into the swing of things," Balshaw added.
Balshaw took up riding at the age of four following advice from physiotherapists, the Shawbirch-based rider has cerebal palsy.
His biggest success camne in 2008 when he won the silver medal in the grade Ib para-equestrian dressage competition.
Ricky Balshaw is one of BBC Radio Shropshire's featured athletes as part of 'Olympic Dreams' in the build-up to London 2012.
