Mark Rimell is finally due to be operated on today after a horse he was riding reared over backwards and crushed him on his Leafield gallops, near Witney, last Wednesday.

The 41-year-old trainer was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, by helicopter with his pelvis broken in four places after Just Playfull fell on top of him in the freak accident.

Speaking from his hospital bed yesterday, Rimell said: “It was an unlucky thing. A pheasant jumped out and the racehorse I was riding spooked at it and fell over backwards and ended on top of me.”

Rimell was expecting to be operated on at the end of last week, but the surgery was delayed due to specialists being on leave, and other cases taking preference.

He added: “The season is just starting to hot up and get going.

“The hard work is all taking place at home, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“It is really annoying, but it is not the end of the world. I could have been paralysed, so I can thank my lucky stars for that. There are people in a lot worse position than me.”

Rimell has been directing operations at his Fairspear stables – where he has a string of 20-25 horses – by phone from his hospital bed each day.

And he added: “I have a good team there and my wife (Annie) will be keeping them on their toes.”

Surgeons have told Rimell he won’t be able to ride again for three months.