QUEST is big bold and beautiful. Sue is determined and stubbornly brave. Quest is a horse and Sue is a Bury housewife. And each and every day these two meet in a magnificent orchestration of love, understanding and delight in each other's company. It's a kind of magic watching the pleasure and sense of freedom this very special and courageous lady gains when out riding her horse over the hills at Nangreaves.

In fact it's nothing short of being a miracle when you learn the heart-breaking truth underneath Sue's carefree and cheery smiles.

Sue suffers from Friedreichs Ataxia which is an inherited disorder of the brain and spinal cord.

This devastating ailment - for which there is no effective treatment - causes loss of balance, defective speech, loss of sensation, damage to the heart muscle and the eventuality of becoming wheelchair bound.

Quest suffers too, from several near-crippling horsy ailments but fortunately there are specialist treatments available to keep her free from pain and relatively mobile, unlike Sue.

"We're just a couple of old crocks aren't we Questie Pops?" Sue gleefully croons to Quest as she grooms her to a shine in her stable.

"She listens to every word I say you know, don't you girl?"

As Quest turns her head to give an affectionate nudge Sue responds immediately by throwing her arms round the mare's neck in a bear-hug type of embrace.

"She's my reason for not giving in to Friedrich's, so long as she lives I've promised myself I won't let this disease get the better of me."

Sadly, Sue was diagnosed with Friedrichs Ataxia several years ago; which came as no surprise as two of her sisters who are both wheelchair bound and suffer from the same hereditary disorder.

"By rights, according to specialists, I should have been in a wheelchair over two years ago. But if I let that happen and become completely disabled how could I look after Questie properly?

"We keep each others spirits alive and kicking, to the best of both our abilities," said Sue.

"Quest has had so many life-threatening, dreadful ailments but at the moment she's doing really well and looks a brilliant picture of health.

"It's sheer guts and determination that keep both of us going and we lean on each other constantly for strength and support."

Sue is a total inspiration to other sufferers of Friedrichs Ataxia and she is living proof, in her case, of mind over matter.

"I class myself as very fortunate in having a wonderful and understanding husband as well as several supportive friends.

"However, without the invaluable help and encouragement of my friend and owner of the stable yard, Sheridan, Quest and I wouldn't be where we are today.

"Sheridan has lugged buckets of water, filled hay nets and most importantly looked after Quest for me when she's been seriously ill.

"She's a very busy lady but she always has time for myself and Quest, and we can't thank her enough."

And brave Sue added: "The disease does have some amusing sides. Because my speech is continually slurred I can get away with having one drink too many 'cos no one notices when I'm drunk!

"And when I'm having a really bad off-balance day, I manage to keep standing up by wearing my good old faithful weighted wellies!"

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.