One of the most talented young riders in the British Dressage (BD) central region, Sonnar Murray-Brown, is in hospital after being involved in a head-on car crash, which has left him with badly crushed legs.

 

The 20-year-old, who was a passenger, has broken the femur in his left leg and the femur, kneecap, tibia and fibula in his right leg. He has already endured one eight-hour operation.

 

Mum Janet said: “He will have to have a second operation in Oxford to give his knee more support, but the outlook is good and he is doing physio at the moment. Knowing Sonnar, he will be back in the saddle as soon as he can balance on a horse, even if it is riding side-saddle. He can also ride Western – he has a Western saddle – and drives quite a lot. He is the most focussed and determined person I know.”

 

Sonnar is based at BD chairman Jennie Loriston-Clarke’s Catherston Stud and had won the young rider team test at the Addington High Profile Show the weekend before the crash, riding Catherston Liberator. He was on the waiting list for the young rider squad and had been invited to attend the next squad training session.

 

His achievements include winning the 2008 BYRDS A Squad Rider of the Year and the 2008 elementary restricted winter championships riding his own Tornado (pictured) with a score of more than 70%.

 

All of us at BD wish Sonnar a speedy recovery. You can email him at sonnar@hotmail.co.uk.