If you want to wish rider Rachael Bentall good luck, telling her to break a leg at this week's Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show might not be a good idea. That's because a year ago the Hastings teenager spent her time ringside at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds after breakingher leg while riding her horse in January 2009. "I spent about 15 weeks or more in a cast," she said. "It was pretty frustrating, having to watch from the side but I've got the cast off now and am ready to go." Back in action, the 18-year-old has mounted a comeback this season, tussling at the top of the Young Rider leaderboard. She spent three months with New Zealand showjumper Samantha McIntosh in Germany and was trained by former World Cup (NZ) series winner and New Zealand representative, Sue Thompson-Brown. Hawke's Bay Today managed to speak to the Auckland University medical student while she was at the airport last night, waiting for her flight home to Napier. Today she was to compete as part of a Young Riders composition team against Australia. Slipping back into competition riding and slipping out of study mode probably wouldn't have been possible without the help of parents Stephen and Denise. "My parents have been keeping the horses in shape for the past three weeks, not riding them, but they've arranged for other people to ride them for me," Ms Bentall said. "Mum's been pretty flat out and last week she and Dad brought the horses up to Auckland for me to ride in a competition here. I've only been in Auckland at university for three weeks and I guess I'll have a lot of work and study to do when I get back." Ms Bentall is into her second season riding 16-year-old horse Kiwi Brave who competed in Europe with previous owner Molly Bennett. She and Kiwi Brave were to compete today. She also has her twin sister's 12-year-old black gelding Bro Town, 7-year-old bay mare Outward Bound and 10-year-old chestnut mare Coastal Charm.
