WEDDING DAY MIRACLE 'MY FIGHT TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE!'

BRAVE BRIDE HACIA WAS DETERMINED TO MEET HER HUSBAND AT THE ALTAR

- Sarah Marinos

When Hacia Atherton arrived at her wedding in a beautiful champagne-colored gown, the moment was particularly special for the excited bride.

And as the 34-year-old walked down the aisle in the chapel of a picturesque winery on the Victorian coast, her future husband Simon, family and friends wiped away tears. They had once feared Hacia would never take those steps.

In July 2017, doctors told Hacia that she would probably spend her life in a wheelchair after she was crushed by her 600kg horse during a riding accident.

At the time, the talented dressage rider from Melbourne was pursuing her dream of representing Australia at the World Equestrian Games.

"Dad sailed for Australia and, as a little kid, I'd put on his Australian team jacket and I knew I wanted to represent my country, too. I wanted to be a Grand Prix dressage rider and represent Australia, and I was getting closer and closer to that goal,” Hacia recalls.

But during training one winter's evening, events took a life-changing turn.

“I was training on my horse, CC, and we were cantering. I gave CC a final big push, but she slammed on the breaks, reared and I came out of the saddle. My horse landed on top of me, Hacia tells New Idea.