The 26-year-old, seriously injured in a pig-hunting accident in King Country bush two years ago, was in Cambridge yesterday to teach and encourage young children at Riding for the Disabled - his new passion.

"This could have been me," Walker said, leading a young disabled rider around the Cambridge arena.

"Before my accident, riding was all about horses, but this is all about the people," he said.

It was touch and go whether Walker would survive after a 10- metre fall down a bank with a pig slung over his shoulders.

"My family and friends were told that I would probably be a vegetable - a full recovery was unlikely."

Two years on Walker is considered a miracle by his doctors, who gave him no chance of ever returning to the saddle.

Since the beginning of last August, Walker has ridden 55 winners accruing more than $2 million in stakes and he lies 10th on the jockeys' table. He has every intention of recapturing the form that took him to multiple premiership wins before his accident.

"I was ignorant. Before my accident I had nothing to do with RDA [Riding for the Disabled Association] but now I plan to become very involved, volunteer my time and help them raise funds for facilities around the country," Walker said.

On Tuesday, Walker also visited Te Awamutu's Riding for the Disabled. Later in the year he will help with a Cambridge community fundraiser, which is likely to include a Tiffanys Heart golf tournament and auction.

Cambridge RDA hopes to raise more than $80,000 for a roof on its new arena and stable buildings to be built this year.

President Sue Duncan said having the support of people like Walker was hugely important to lift the profile and awareness about the work RDA did in the community.

"We rely so heavily on volunteers and donations but the community has been wonderful and in return we have a fabulous branch for our clients here."

--------------------

He is part of a breeding programme at the centre where dozens are released back into the wild in a bid to increase their numbers. The unique little mouse is the only breed with a prehensile tail, which he uses as a fifth limb when he is scampering through the hedgerow.

I managed to photograph the little poser when he decided to investigate a pot plant of snowdrops.

Harvest mice seem to freeze for a few seconds and take in their surroundings giving the photographer time to capture the image which in this case will be his curtain call before his release back to the wild Somerset countryside.

To buy Richard Austin's superb cards and calendars visit