Burton-on-Trent's Abigail Boulton has broken her back and fractured a cheekbone while riding, but those accidents won't put her off the sport as she prepares for the Burghley Horse Trials.

The 21-year-old will ride Tilston Tic Toc when she competes at Burghley for the second time after being the youngest rider to complete the event last year, finishing 47th. It has been some journey to this point for Boulton who insists her accidents haven’t put her off eventing.

Tilston Tic Toc will be one of 100 horses taking to the international four-star event in Burghley Park, Lincolnshire from September 1-4.

Event riders will compete in dressage, cross country and show jumping disciplines, looking to follow in the footsteps of 2015 winner Michael Jung as well as six-time champion William Fox-Pitt, currently representing Team GB at the Rio Olympic Games.

In April 2014 she was near her home riding a young horse when a lorry hit a low-hanging branch further down the road. The sound startled the animal and, despite her best attempts, she came off and landed in a sitting position on the tarmac, fracturing two vertebrae in her back.

“I knew I had done something straight away as I was in a lot of pain,” said Boulton. “I rang my mum and asked how far away she was. To take my mind off it I rang a friend but didn’t tell her what had happened and we had a normal conversation. My mum arrived, took the phone off me and told her not to worry and that the ambulance was on its way - she wasn’t too pleased!”

Ten weeks after the accident Boulton returned to the saddle. She remained clear of any major accidents until January when another spectacular dismount resulted in serious damage, this time to her cheekbone.

“I was riding one day and jumped a fence. It was quite boggy and he hit the fence with both front legs but I was already coming off,” she explained.

“But in all the mud I found a big stone which I face planted.”

With the aid of a facemask Boulton returned to action after six weeks and she is now looking to make up for lost time after a false start to 2016.

“I don’t want to jinx anything because I haven’t had an accident since. The first fall after a bad fall is the real test and I haven’t had that yet so I’m hoping that won’t happen in the near future.”

The multi-award winning Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials from September 1-4 has been established as a major international equestrian and social event in the Autumn Sporting Calendar for over 50 years. For more information visit burghley-horse.co.uk