His first instinct was to get straight back on. The pain from the two compression fractures in his back had yet to kick in, not to mention the series of jagged little cracks along his spine.

So Ricky Balshaw, Shropshire’s silver medal-winning Paralympian, crawled across the ring where his horse had thrown him and managed to haul himself to his feet. “I just thought I was winded,” he says of the horrific fall that left him with a broken back. I didn’t think it was anything serious.”

Ricky had fallen at a training arena about two miles from his home, in Shawbirch, Telford. He’d been riding Rodger, the horse on which he hopes to compete in the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Ricky had been at the end of a 40-minute training session and was warming down. He had loosened his grip on Rodger’s reins, giving the animal the chance to stretch his back and loosen his muscles. Unexpectedly, a dog ran towards the arena, causing Rodger to canter away from the apparent danger. Ricky, without the reins held tight, struggled to remain upright on the horse as the animal’s momentum propelled him backwards.

“I tried to hang on, but it was difficult as the horse started to move forward at speed.” When Rodger took a left hand corner, Ricky came off, landing squarely on his back and shoulder. He probably fell beneath Rodger, getting a kick to his back as the animal cantered on. “I didn’t pass out, I remained conscious,” says Ricky. “I managed to crawl to the side of the ring, then got to my feet. I just wanted to get back on the horse.

“There were a few people there and they came over to help. Then, when I tried to stand up, I couldn’t put any weight on my left side. I tried to right myself, but my back went into spasm: I thought ‘This ain’t good’.”

That was an understatement on a par with “the 2011 riots stretched police”, or, “Manchester City are worth a few quid”.

Ricky says: “I thought it was muscle damage, so I told everyone I’d be fine. But after 15 minutes I gave in and let them call me an ambulance.”

When medics arrived, they ticked off the rider before placing him on a spinal board. He was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital, in Telford, where he underwent MRI and CT scans.

“My mate is a radiologist,” says Ricky. “He came to see me, he’d seen the result of the scans and told me I’d broken my back. I couldn’t believe it.”

Six weeks earlier, Ricky’s mate, Lee Pearson, who pipped him to the gold medal at Beijing, had suffered a similar injury. “We both broke our backs during the summer, we both suffered compression fractures: it’s unbelievable, really.”

Ricky remained in hospital for the following days, though was soon allowed home. His rehabilitation began with twice-weekly massages and soon he will return to light workouts at the gym, as well as swimming pool-based therapy.

“I just need to build the muscle back up,” he says. “The discs in my back, L5 and L3, are now permanently out of place. They can’t do anything about that. But my body will adjust to it.”

Ricky will have to stay off his horse until October at the earliest. “There are a number of cracks in my spine. If I was riding and came off now, well, it doesn’t bear thinking about, does it? Hopefully, the bone will have repaired by October, so I’ll be able to get back on. ”

While Ricky sits and stews at home, growing increasingly bored of YouTube repeats, his mind is focusing on London’s 2012 Paralympics. He’s determined to go one better than his performance at Beijing, and land gold.

“I can’t work because I can’t sit up for more than an hour without my back giving me the most excruciating pain. But I’m being positive about it. It’ll give me the chance to have a holiday, to get away from riding and to look forward.

“I’m expecting to come back in October then spend the winter months putting in the hard yards, in the snow and wind and rain. I’m completely focused on London.”

Ricky hopes to qualify during trials in spring next year, ensuring his place at the world’s biggest sporting event: the London 2012 Olympic Paralympic Games.

“Breaking my back hasn’t been the perfect preparation,” he says. “But I’m determined to come back stronger than before. I was second at Beijing. I want to go one better in London.”

Ricky is by no means Shropshire’s only medal hope, however.

Pamela Grainger from Shifnal is aiming to represent ParalympicsGB in shooting at London 2012.

She is paralysed in her right arm as result of a motorbike accident in August 2002. Being a serving member of the RAF she attended Headley Court to rehabilitate after multiple operations. In 2009 Pamela took part in a Talent ID day for the Paralympics where she excelled at pistol shooting from day one with her steady hold. After taking time off in early 2010 to look after her sick mother, Pamela returned to the fray in September last year and took Silver at the International World Cup – her first competition in Great Britain colours. She is now potentially two major competitions away from representing Great Britain in London.

l Pamela is supported by the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme, providing support and funding to 344 emerging athletes. Follow their fortunes at www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes