After months of recovery, she still has more surgery to come next year, but she managed to get back on a horse a few months ago, just in time to prepare for the Masters Games.

On Friday, she won gold in the equestrian showjumping.

Spillane competed alongside her parents, Winston and Debbie Pilgrim, of Spreyton.

Her dad hadn’t competed in about 25 years and her mum had never competed in showjumping.

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The 36-year-old was training a horse at home in October last year when she fell, landing on her feet, but a bone in her leg broke through the skin.

She spent time in and out of hospital with infections, and the wound didn’t heal for about five months.

Spillane was on crutches for nine months and still has to have more surgery.

“I asked my surgeon to put it off until after the show season,” she said.

“I got back on the horse in July very slowly when I was still on crutches. 

“I started jumping again a couple of months ago but didn’t know if I’d be able to be here, so to win gold was just amazing."

She said riding at the games with her parents was the best part.

“We all competed together when I was young so it was like being 12 again.”

Her dad enjoyed his comeback after more than two decades out of the competition ring.

When Spillane was injured, he took on the role of riding with her seven-year-old son Charlie.

“My grandson competed a few weeks ago with us here so we had the three generations,” Winston Pilgrim said.

“The grandkids have definitely given me an incentive to ride again."

Debbie Pilgrim was also injured 12 months ago on the same horse her daughter fell from.

She broke her wrist on one side and thumb joint on the other.

“I got back on about four months later but my wrist is still not right,” she said.

“You’ve just got to do it while you can before anything else seizes up.

“I don’t knit or sew or crochet, so I have to ride.”

The Masters Games equestrian showjumping continues on Saturday.