Trainer forced to run stable from hospital bed.

Horses, Jockeys & Trainers

Danny Williams recovering from freak accident
Paul Joice - 12 Feb 2015


Talented Goulburn-based horseman Danny Williams is lucky to be alive after a freak riding accident two weeks ago.

Williams was educating a young horse when it suddenly started bucking, dropped its head and speared him into the turf.

"I landed with so much impact that my pelvis basically split apart, it opened-up like a book," Williams, who remains in Canberra Hospital, said. "I'm pretty smashed up.

"I was pretty much split in half.

"They put me in a brace for two weeks to pull the pelvis back together and to stop the internal bleeding."

Williams has only recently rekindled his training career, after taking a hiatus and working for the Tony McEvoy stable as foreman during most of 2013.

Williams rebuilding process is now two-fold, first he must get his body back in shape while at the same time, continuing to rebuild the stable.

"The timing for these things is never good, but for me it's a particularly bad time," Williams said.

"I have some new high profile owners in the stable, in fact some new horses are due to arrive today.

"I'm running the business from my hospital bed.

"I'm not allowed to move for another four weeks, so to keep my mind active I am usually awake at three or four in the morning, doing whatever needs to be done from here.

"I was fit when this injury occurred, and I am already working on my rehab. I can exercise my legs, arms and stomach from the bed.

Williams is thankful that he will be able to walk again, but riding looks unlikely.

"I've had no negative thoughts despite being in constant pain. I've had a plate and pins put through the pelvis. I've been poked, prodded, needles, ultrasounds and I'm still bleeding internally," Williams said.

"But with support from my girlfriend and mum, I am staying positive."

Williams is a renowned horseman and one of the most astute trainers in Australia, but he is very hands on and likes doing things his way.

"I had been considering my training methods before this accident," Williams said.

"Just training the horses rather than riding them was something I was seriously thinking about, so I guess this will force my hand in regards to that.

"I will have to change the way I do things, put more trust in others."

Danny Williams is training out of the late Guy Walter's stables at Goulburn.

His first runner since returning to training was a winner, Shout To The Top, at Goulburn on September 14. He has had 37 runners for nine winners.

Physically battered and broken, mentally Williams is in a good place, and if determination counts for anything, he will be back doing what he knows best sooner rather than later.