But nothing, not even a broken back, could keep her away from the equines she adores and she is back in the saddle.

Ms Gardiner, a mother of three and horse welfare volunteer of Hilldale, has adopted four rescue horses and visits others  in the region on a roster system.

“In May 2010 I broke my back when I fell from a child’s riding pony,” she said.

“The pony bucked me off and threw me into the dirt and I broke a vertebrae in my back.”

Recovery was slow and painful.

“I was bedridden and could not be left alone,” she said.

“I was not meant to ride a horse again, but I have chosen to. I will always have pain, it varies in degree.”

Ms Gardiner has been a horse welfare volunteer for the past three years, which helped in her recovery and to regain her nerve around horses.

“I had been around horses my entire life,” she said.

“I joined a horse charity because I still had my passion for these animals and I wanted to help heal horses in need.”

Ms Gardiner started with the charity in 2011 doing bits and pieces to regain her confidence.

Then along came three horses – Lance, Percy and Tristan – saved from the knackery and Ms Gardiner’s world changed.

“Three very poor horses came in from the knackery – all three were older horses,” she said.

“The process of feeding and care began. These older boys were in such a terrible state I wondered if they would survive.

“By September last year, those three boys were looking beautiful and healthy. They have been the most amazing horses to have around. They are very quiet.”

Ms Gardiner’s attachment to these horses was so strong, she thought about riding again.

“They had shown such a calm nature throughout their recovery.

“I dusted off the old saddle and hopped on Tristan.To say I was amazed at the level of education this horse had, is an understatement. He was the best ride I ever had.”

Ms Gardiner continued to work with Tristan and went to a dressage competition in October last year.

“No one could believe this horse had come from the knackery ready to have his head chopped off for dog food.”

Horse Welfare Inc saves lots of horses every year and most of the money comes from volunteers pockets. Horses end up at the knackery because of drought and over breeding, Ms Gardiner said.

“I have always loved horses and animals since I grew up on a property near Tamworth, where I learnt to muster,” she said.

“My grandmother rode horses and my father played polo crosse. I learnt to ride when I was four or five.”

As for her rescued horses, Ms Gardiner considered them lost souls when they arrived in her care.

“They had been thrown away, they were so thin, shut down, closed off and had given up. I worked with them and they came back to life. 

“It is an amazing feeling watching a horse come back from the brink of death.”