'I'm over the moon' - Aidan Macdonald rides out for the first time since stroke

Conditional jockey Aidan Macdonald continued his remarkable recovery on Thursday as he got back on a horse for the first time since he suffered a life-threatening stroke last year.

He rode out for his boss Micky Hammond and is now looking forward to a possible return to race-riding.

Macdonald, 22, collapsed in the high street in Middleham last spring and was in a critical condition when he was rushed to hospital, where he spent three and a half weeks.

He returned to yard work in November after a scan showed his carotid artery had healed, and his long recovery and rehabilitation process took another big step forward on the ten-year-old hurdler Applaus.

"It's been a great day," he said. "I finally got back in the saddle. Last night I had a Zoom call with my girlfriend Ellie, my mum and dad, Sophie Phillips from Jack Berry House and [BHA chief medical adviser] Jerry Hill and he gave me the good news that I was able to ride out. I was over the moon.

"I was a bit nervous this morning but the horse I was on was Applaus, who is a yard favourite and looks after all the young kids. I was in safe hands!

"I just cantered a straight six furlongs. My legs were good. I thought they'd be a bit sore, but all the work I've done at Jack Berry House has helped. It was snowy out there but I was just happy to be back on a horse, never mind the cold weather. It's good to be back, a bit of normality."

'I'll be riding out every day now'

Macdonald, who had ridden three winners at the time he suffered his stroke, will gradually build up his work schedule.

"I think I'll be riding out every day now and I hope I'll get up to riding three lots a day," he said.

"Eventually, I'll start schooling again. I'll probably be a bit nervous for that but, again, Micky will put me on something very safe – the horse will know what it's doing!"

Asked about getting his licence back to ride in races, he said: "I have to reassess the situation with Jerry Hill and my parents after a few weeks of riding out, just to see how I take it. It's the last piece of the puzzle."

Macdonald, who is originally from Hawick in the Scottish borders, has been based with Hammond on a permanent basis since 2016.

Read more on this subject:

Conditional rider Aidan Macdonald making 'positive' progress after Hexham fall

Conditional Aidan Macdonald takes first steps after being rushed to hospital

'I couldn't lift my foot' – stroke victim Aidan Macdonald aims to race again

Stroke victim Aidan Macdonald 'fitter than ever' and raring to ride out again

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