WHEN Jonty Evans stepped out onto the tarmac at Dublin Airport last month, it was a milestone moment, and one that marked his first return to Irish soil since his life-changing fall at Tattersalls eight months ago. The short journey across from England was tough both physically and mentally for the Olympian, but one that Evans was determined to make and described as a “no brainer”.

The occasion that had propelled him into undertaking the trip was to attend the David Foster Injured Riders Ball at the Johnstown Estate in Co Meath, specifically to give thanks to the organisers of the fund which has played such a major part in his recovery. His brave and inspirational speech on the night came from the heart, and epitomised the very purpose of the evening.

In Jonty’s own words: “It was the paramedics at Tattersalls and the staff at the Connolly hospital who saved me – but it was the David Foster Injured Riders Fund and Sneezy Foster that put me back together. What they have done for me is incredible.”

Speaking to him at his hotel before the evening got underway, Evans was understandably apprehensive about speaking publicly. His ongoing recovery is a work in progress, and while he has made giant strides, he is self-critical of his improvement.

“I want to be better and I’m not happy with this yet,” he revealed. “I think I sound awful – it took quite a lot of persuading for me to come here tonight and because my cheek is all frozen up, I don’t feel that I speak properly.” Laughing at himself, he added with his typical self-effacing humour, “I’ve been practising saying ‘the David Foster Injured Riders Ball’ all the way over here!’”

Of course, he was word-perfect on the night, and the standing ovation he received and the warmth shown was tangible.

Since Evans left the care of the Irish hospitals, his recuperation has been centred around hospital in Liverpool, near to his family in North Wales, and subsequently at the rehabilitation centre at Oaksey House in Berkshire. Named after its founder and amateur jockey, the late Lord John Oaksey and run by the British Injured Jockeys’ Fund, the flagship centre offers specialist treatment for riders with physical and neurological injuries. The care it offers has been pivotal to Evans’ ongoing recovery, and his presence there is largely due to funding.

“The rehab is incredible but of course it has to be paid for. Sneezy and the committee have been amazing, Words can’t describe how good she has been. I didn’t know her that well beforehand but she has been unbelievable – off the scale,” he said.

CHALLENGING

Coming to terms with his present situation has been challenging. As Jonty explains: “I don’t feel emotionally different, but it’s incredibly frustrating knowing that you will never again be quite the person you were, and that’s really hard. I’ve been told by the doctors that that it doesn’t mean you’re not going to be a better version but it does mean that you are not going to be who you were. That is to me really hurtful because I had absolutely everything I wanted. I didn’t make much money but the horses that I had were really good.”

Most of those horses, the majority of which Evans had produced as youngsters, have moved on to new riders. Although pragmatic about the situation, this has been particularly tough for Evans who added, “John The Bull and Gambesi to name just two, are top, top-class horses, and together with Art (Cooley Rorkes Drift) would have seen me out for as long as I wanted to go on. It has been and is hard but I think you have to accept when you are very lucky and I was probably very lucky.”

One exception to the yard exodus, and without doubt the most important to Evans, is Art, whose white face still looks over the stable door at his Gloucestershire base.

The subject of an extraordinary and ultimately successful £500,000 crowd funding campaign in 2017, Art was his partner at the Rio Olympics and also his final ride at Tattersalls. Over the winter months, the Irish-bred gelding was kept ticking over by fellow rider Andrew Downes, but is now back at home with Evans, his future secure.

“Everybody in Art’s amazing family and indeed his two majority shareholders have all been very supportive. It’s more about me enjoying him and to see what the future holds. There is no pressure at all. I’m very lucky and is a big weight off my mind. It doesn’t stop me wondering, but it does take it away,” said Evans.

The next aim was of course to resume riding. Having been given the thumbs up by the doctors, he now rides Art each day, and pushing himself further, recently spent a week of intensive riding at the nearby Talland Equestrian Centre. Under the watchful eye of renowned trainer Pammy Hutton, Evans incredibly schooled four horses each day for seven consecutive days. “Pammy was wonderful to put in so much effort for me,” he acknowledged.

The final hurdle to cross was to leave the floor, and in two much-viewed videos on social media, Evans and Art are seen jumping initially in a school, and later smoothly crossing country. “Afterwards I said to myself, ‘What have I done to deserve this horse?’ Whatever he does, and that includes Rio (where he was placed ninth individually) it is because he just looks around and gets on with it.”

Any decision to return to competitive riding however will be Evans’ alone. He feels more ‘normal’ on a horse than off, and his balance is good. “I’d love the glasses to go. My sight hopefully will improve, and I’ve been told that it might do – or then again it might not. I haven’t got double vision anymore, and while each eye works perfectly well independently of the other, it is the two together that is not quite right. I’m not saying what I’m going to do riding wise – I think that would be very silly, but you know the first step was certainly me jumping the other day, and that was only the beginning. The worst thing in the world however, would be to go eventing and not be any good at it. I just couldn’t cope with that – equally I couldn’t t cope if I couldn’t get to reasonable level. I would probably give up in that case.”

Is competing a motivating force? Evans is quick to reply. “I don’t need any motivation. People have asked me if it was amazing to ride and jump again? The answer is not really; it was just normal. There is lots to work on but in terms in motivation. I don’t know – I don’t find I need it.”

COMMENTATING AND TEACHING

For the past few years, Evans (47) has enjoyed a part time career in the media. Dovetailing neatly with his eventing commitments, and mainly centred around the major events such as Badminton and Burghley, he is a natural behind the microphone. Amusing, knowledgeable and personable, Evans hopes that this is something he will be able to develop further.

“I’d love to do some more and see where it takes me. I’m still a little bit hesitant and keen for my mouth to get better first. I really don’t want to be known as the person on the end of a microphone that has had a brain injury. I want to be recognised for what I know or might know or my opinion.”

Another occupation Evans can see expanding in the future is teaching. A real people person, with a wealth of experience in producing horses of all levels, he is already in demand. “I love teaching and as long as I’m teaching someone who wants to learn then I don’t mind the level it is at.

“I’ll stick with that to start with, perhaps before I branch out into clinics. I’ve had a good few enquiries and also some from Ireland. I’d love to do that – to come back here to give those people who helped me something back. And if me passing on my knowledge helps them than that’s really good.”

SPECIAL TRIBUTE

Although he no longer lives at the yard and is separated from his wife Jane, Jonty hopes to remain in the Cheltenham area in order to be near his son Charlie. The youngest of his two children (Jonty also has a 15-year-old daughter Rebecca from his first marriage), Charlie was present at Tattersalls on the day of his fall. Only eight years old, Charlie was experiencing his first three-day event away from home.

“I want to pass on massive thanks to all that helped him in such a difficult situation. My wonderful head girl Jane Felton and Gambesi’s owner Sarah Moffatt were amazing, as was Dora Beacom who made a special friend of Charlie during the week,” said Jonty.

There were so many other people from that time to whom Evans will always be grateful. The Glynn family and Sam Watson are singled out for special mention, while his Irish event team members also played their part. Evans recollects being phoned in the middle of the night from the World Equestrian Games in Tryon.

“It was the evening after the cross-country. Ian (Woodhead) and Padraig (McCarthy) were on the phone and they were absolutely cock a hoop. They still had a long way to go to secure a medal but they had put themselves in a very strong position.

“They were screaming down the phone and obviously very excited, so I said – ‘guys you’ve forgotten something – there is a time difference’ – but I was really touched.”

Who knows what the future holds for Big J and Art; a duo who have already demonstrated that anything in life is possible. “I don’t always agree with my mother but she keeps saying, ‘Jonty’s not written the last chapter ‘ – and you know – she might be right,” he concluded.