A STABLE worker from Ryedale who underwent four hours of surgery after she was kicked in the face by a horse has spoken of her ordeal.

Anne Blanchard, who works for Tim Easterby, at Great Habton, near Malton, was knocked unconscious after being struck by a hoof.

Anne, 40, who expects to be back at work at the end of this month, was with three-year-old Artie, recent winner of the William Hill Trophy at York, when the accident happened.

"I can't remember a thing about being kicked - it's been wiped from my memory," she said.

"All I remember is being in the yard and seeing Artie and then waking up in intensive care.

"Apparently I was drifting in and out of consciousness and people were coming up an talking to me, but I just don't remember. It's weird."

Anne's jaw was shattered by the force of the kick, and at one point during surgery at York District Hospital, she needed a tracheotomy to enable her to breathe properly.

"I've got four plates in my jaw, they wired my jaw up and my face is swollen but I'm on the road to recovery," she said.

Anne says though she may initially be wary of horses when she returns to work, she will soon get used to them again.

"I've been surrounded by horses all my life," she said.

"I went to a show recently and I was a bit wary of them. I'll be a bit more vigilant in case one of them tries to kick me again."

Updated: 11:27 Tuesday, August 13, 2002