• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Spinal Life Australia
  • HLC Cairns
  • HLC Brisbane

Spinal Life Australia

1300 774 625

Menu

Close menu

  • Therapies and Supports
    • Search Available Services
    • Peer Support
    • Personal Support
    • Community Nursing
    • Physiotherapy
    • Exercise Physiology
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Assistive Technology
    • Supports Coordination
    • Plan Management
    • Advocacy
    • Social Work
    • Access and Inclusion Consulting
  • Resources for you
    • Understanding your funding
    • Training solutions
    • Book your SEAT visit
    • The Advocate magazine
    • Events
  • Our community
    • About Spinal Life Australia
    • Become a member
    • Donate
    • Our Board and Executive Team
    • Our Sponsors and Supporters
    • Our Patron and Ambassadors
  • Work with us
    • Current opportunities
  • Contact us
  • Donate

Kristy back in the saddle after spinal cord injury

May 31, 2018 by Rachel Toune

Photo of Kristy banks riding a brown horse. The horse is taking a sharp left turn around a red barrel. Kristy sits on top of the horse in a blue shirt, holding onto the reigns and smiling.
Kristy Banks has passed on her love of horses to her 4 year old son, Nash.

As a champion jockey, Yalangur resident Kristy Banks is used to the odds being in her favour.

However, Kristy found herself betting against the future of her riding career after she sustained a serious spinal cord injury during a race at Clifford Park on the last night of 2011.

“I sustained a high-level injury after the accident, it was a really terrible time,” she said.

“I had to come to the heartbreaking realisation that I might never be in the saddle again.”

That was seven years ago – today, not only is Kristy riding regularly as a keen barrel racer, she’s raising a little jockey of her own.

“My son Nash is four years old now and he definitely inherited his love of riding from his parents,” Kristy said, referring to her husband Dale who rides racehorses.

“He has his own miniature pony, Emi, that he just loves to ride.”

Kristy said she loves being a mum and her supportive family had helped her flourish after some difficult months post-injury.

“I still love riding and I can still ride independently, only now I just need a little bit of help from Dale to get on the saddle,” she said.

“It was a scary time right after my fall, but I was able to receive advice and guidance from Spinal Life Australia’s Peer Support Team, who share their experience with spinal cord injury with newly-injured patients at the Spinal Injuries Unit.

“They talked about how, despite the new challenges you will face, you can still live a happy and fulfilling life after injury.

“That’s something that thankfully I’ve been able to experience for myself.”

Kristy has recently partnered with Spinal Life Australia to raise funds to support other people with spinal cord injury find their best post-injury life – visit www.spinal.com.au/donate for more information.

Filed Under: Our news

Find services near you

Location Map (Woolloongabba)

GETTING THERE

Use the Accessible Australia app to find information and reviews to help you get around better.

Visit

Footer

Quick Links

  • Donate
  • Publications
  • News
  • Privacy
  • PSW Resources/Login
  • Office Staff Login

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you! Leave a message here or you can call toll free on: 1300 774 625

Your feedback

Feedback is always welcome from our members, clients and the general public.

Leave Feedback

Pay your invoices online

Settling your Spinal Life invoices is easy with our online payment portal.

Pay online

Copyright © 2022 Spinal Life Australia. All Rights Reserved.

Accessibility Statement Sitemap Admin

Back to top