TEN months ago, Tara Egan lay in a coma in intensive care after suffering horrific head injuries in a horse-riding accident.

Now she is back riding and has just picked up a string of rosettes at this year's Chepstow Show - marking a remarkable recovery for both Tara and her new pony Autumn, who just months earlier was on the verge of being put down.

Tara, 12, spent three days in a coma at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol after sustaining blood clots to her brain following a riding accident last November. Doctors feared it could take up to a year for her to fully recover.

But Tara, of Briar Close, Undy, has amazed everyone by not only regaining her health, but by fulfilling her dream of competing in the Chepstow Show.

Kirstin Egan, Tara's mum, said: "We were amazed by the fact that she had just got over a serious head injury, came back, got on her pony and did so well in the show. Horse riding has given her such confidence over the last year.

"Not only did her injuries heal, she couldn't remember anything about the accident and she couldn't wait to get back on a pony. Tara seemed to have no fear of getting back on her pony at all."

For three months Tara was unable to ride and it took six months to train her pony and for her head injury to heal sufficiently.

Mrs Egan said allowing her daughter to get back on a horse was a terrifying experience.

But following a practice run at the David Broome Event Centre in Caldicot, Tara entered the novice working hunter pony class at the Chepstow Show and came third.

She also came sixth in the Ridden Part Arab Class and first in the Young Handler Class, taking home the trophy.

Her success continued at the Pony Club Show this weekend when she came third in the Pony Club Riding Test 2004.

And the success comes just months after Tara's pony Autumn was close to being put down after a local trainer discovered it in a yard covered in sores and drastically underweight.

Tara and her family nurtured Autumn up to show standard and gave it the competition name Indian Summer.

Mrs Egan added: "The amazing thing is how Autumn and Tara bonded. They both have red hair and Tara is very forward thinking and confident.

"Tara had the tenacity and confidence to handle her and we now have a pony you wouldn't recognise."