Woman Resumes Horse Riding Following Recovery from Severe Facial Injury

Julie Doorne has resumed her equestrian pursuits, having undergone two years of facial reconstruction following a severe accident where she was kicked in the face and rendered unconscious. Medical professionals informed her she was “lucky to be alive” after the incident, which occurred while she was feeding her horses at her Grantham residence, resulted in the loss of a significant part of her face and all but eight teeth. She remarked, “Half an inch the other way and it could have been different.” Following numerous surgical procedures, including bone grafts and dental implants, Ms Doorne, aged 71, has conquered her initial apprehension and is once again riding. She maintains her profound dedication to these “amazing animals,” which nearly claimed her life. “I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have horses,” she stated, adding, “I’d start knitting or something.” The incident in July 2022 left Ms Doorne unconscious, and upon regaining awareness, she discovered a significant void in her face. She recounted, “I phoned 999 because I thought it was probably quite bad because at that point I was spitting quite a few teeth out.” Her husband, Bill Guinness, was away walking the family dogs with his daughter when the accident occurred. Mr. Guinness reported that a responding police officer was astonished by the extent of the injury, initially suspecting his wife had been assaulted. He quoted the officer as saying, “The police officer at the time said he’d never seen an injury like it – even in a road traffic accident.” Following initial emergency surgery, the family deduced that the incident likely stemmed from the horses disputing feeding order, resulting in Ms Doorne being either kicked or trodden on. Ms Doorne endured a two-year period without teeth, attributed to delays in accessing subsequent treatment. The family eventually pursued private medical care, which Mr. Guinness stated incurred costs of “tens of thousands of pounds.” In the months that followed the accident, Ms Doorne revealed that a diminished sense of confidence prevented her from being able to “walk up and down the stairs” independently. She also mentioned still feeling self-conscious when conversing with unfamiliar individuals and habitually covering her mouth when she laughs. The accident significantly altered the family’s future plans, leading Mr. Guinness to accelerate his retirement in order to provide care for his wife. He commented, “The plans we made got changed because of that day and that accident.” He further added, “The beat of a butterfly’s wings, and the whole world has changed.” Ms Doorne continues to keep two horses at her residence and, despite initial apprehension around the animals, affirmed that she “wouldn’t get rid of the horses.” She elaborated, “For a long time I was very jumpy around the horses. If they swished their tails near me I sort of jumped a bit. I’m a lot better with that now.” She characterized the accident as “my fault,” stating, “It wasn’t their fault. They weren’t kicking at me.” Reflecting on her affection for horses, Ms Doorne expressed, “They are so clever, they can tell how you feel. They can if you’re tell nervous from 10 yards away, 20 yards away.” She concluded, “They’re just souls – they know you.”