Brave Tara is jumping for joy (From Free Press Series)

Brave Tara is jumping for joy

WHEN little Tara Egan won a clutch of riding rosettes at this year's Chepstow Show, it completed a major fight back after a serious illness.

Twelve-year-old Tara won these rosettes just months after sustaining blood clots to her brain following a fall off her pony that left her with serious head injuries.

The brave young horse rider spent three days in a coma on intensive care at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol following the accident last November.

Doctors said it would take her six months to a year to fully recover.

But Tara, of Briar Close, Undy, has amazed everyone by not only regaining her health, but also fulfilling her dream of competing in the Chepstow Show.

Kirstin Egan, Tara's mum, said: "We were amazed by the fact that she had just got over a serious head injury, came back, got on her pony and did so well in the show. Horse riding has given her such confidence over the last year.

"Not only did her injuries heal, she couldn't remember anything about the accident and she couldn't wait to get back on a pony. Tara seemed to have no fear of getting back on her pony at all."

During the nerve wracking recovery period with little brother Toby at Tara's side throughout, mum Kirstin says allowing her daughter to get back on a horse was a terrifying experience, but the little girl was determined.

For three months Tara was unable to ride and it took six months to train her pony and for her head injury to heal sufficiently.

Following a practice run at the David Broome Event Centre in Caldicot, Tara entered the novice working hunter pony class at the Chepstow Show and came third.

She also came sixth in the Ridden Part Arab Class and first in the Young Handler Class, taking home the trophy.

Her success continued at the Pony Club Show this weekend when she came third in the Pony Club Riding Test 2004.

But the show success has also been an amazing turn around for Tara's pony Autumn, which was found last year in a terrible state of neglect.

Discovered by a local trainer in a yard amongst other horses waiting to be put down, Autumn was covered in rain scalds and drastically under weight.

Thanks to the love and care of Tara and her family, Autumn was nurtured to show standard and given the competition name Indian Summer.

Kirstin added: "The amazing thing is how Autumn and Tara bonded. They both have red hair and Tara is very forward thinking and confident.

"Tara had the tenacity and confidence to handle her and we now have a pony you wouldn't recognise from before."

Tara is now well on the road to full recovery and has excelled at school, gaining above normal marks for science, winning a prize for her artwork at Chepstow Comprehensive and maintaining normal study levels despite being unable to do homework.

Tara now plans to become a professional horse rider and hopes to compete in the Olympics one day.

Is Tara the bravest little girl in Monmouthshire? If you have an amazing story to tell us, call our newsdesk on 01291 621882.