HORSE lover Fiona Gale, who has refused to let health problems stand in the way of her hobby despite it nearly costing her life, will today celebrate her birthday out of hospital for the first time in seven years.

Fiona, who lives in Sherston, has not been at home on her birthday, or for Christmas Day, since she was 20.

She has brittle asthma, which means she could suffer respiratory failure at any time, and has Osteopenic, a thinning of the bones, brought on by steroids to treat her asthma.

Twenty-seven-year-old Fiona's main passion in life is horses, and she used to work as head girl at the stables of champion showjumper Graham Fletcher, at Wolstone, near Swindon. Her illnesses have forced her to give up work but she has continued to ride.

"I had to give up that job about six years ago because at that point I was spending up to nine months a year in hospital," said Miss Gale.

Last October, Fiona broke her spine, near the top of her back, when a horse fell on her while she was riding in the Beaufort Hunt, and spent nine months in hospital.

Fiona said her condition means she could, and frequently has, collapsed from respiratory failure .

"I cannot lead a normal life and cannot work because my health is not reliable, and basically my asthma rules my life," added Fiona.

She said she sees a psychologist for counselling once each week, and has oxygen pumped through her body each night.

But, since being released from hospital in June, Fiona has spent just three weeks in hospital and is looking forward to a big party tomorrow night at her local, The Rattlebone Inn.

Then it will be on to a traditional Christmas surrounded by her family.

"I have not had a birthday, Christmas or New Year at home for ages, this will be my first Christmas at home for seven years," said Miss Gale, whose mother, Barbara, 53, is a reporter for BBC Wiltshire Sound.

"I cannot believe that I am hearing Christmas records, and seeing Christmas lights, it seems really strange.

"I live in my own bungalow and as soon as I bought my Christmas decorations on the first weekend of December I couldn't help but put them up, I am just looking forward to everything about Christmas.

"I have to enjoy it really, because I don't know what will happen next year."

Fiona, a former Malmesbury School pupil, was diagnosed with brittle asthma when she was 15.

"It is an asthma that is completely out of control and can result in respiratory arrest, which I have had in the past," said Fiona.

Two years ago, Fiona was diagnosed with Osteopenic, and has twice since broken her collarbone, her wrist, and, most seriously, her back last year.

"The accident happened when I was riding someone's else's horse, as part of a hunt, and jumped a hedge at Commonwood Lane, near Sherston," said Fiona.

"I fell from the horse, which was a huge size, and it fell on me, breaking my back."

Fiona also broke the bridge of her nose, where her helmet fell over her face, and badly cut her lips.

She was airlifted to Bristol's Frenchay Hospital and subsequently spent four and a half months laid up on her back, in a succession of hospitals, to allow the break to set, before being released from The Mineral Hospital, Bath, in June.

"On Friday night all my friends are coming to the pub to celebrate my birthday, and I have booked a table for 50 people," said Fiona.

"It will be like celebrating my 21st all over again and is something I could not have thought of doing before, but I have done so well."