British number one eventer Oliver Townend has been hospitalised after suffering a horror fall at the Rolex Kentucky competition in America.
Townend, 27, fell as his horse Ashdale Cruise Master slipped at the 20th fence of the cross-country course.
The Yorkshireman was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Hospital but has since been able to get out of bed.
"The initial prognosis is good and encouraging," said Will Connell of the British Equestrian Federation.
"He is conscious and talking, which was the case when he left the site. All the emergency services here were fantastic - they looked after Oliver and the horse very well."
Townend's horse Ashfield, a ride the Shropshire-based rider has had for three months, was unhurt in the fall.
Kristi Nunnink and Tara Ziegler also fell at the same fence, called The Hollow, but were uninjured.
The recent travel chaos caused by volcanic ash meant Townend had to endure a mammoth 51-hour trek to reach Kentucky, a journey that had included three flights, two trains and three car trips.
Having already won at Badminton and Burghley in 2009, Towned was aiming to become the first man to equal British rider Pippa Funnell's unprecedented Grand Slam of 2003, as he chased a £230,000 Rolex Grand Slam payday.
British Olympian William Fox-Pitt, who retains the lead going into the show jumping phase, said he expects Townsend to resume the competition as soon as he can, with his horse Master Rose lying seventh overnight.
"The good news is he has regained consciousness," he said. "Knowing Ollie, he could well be back to ride ODT Master Rose in the show jumping tomorrow as he is lying well up there."
Townend, the son of a Huddersfield milk man, was also crowned HSBC Classics champion in 2009 and won a team gold medal with Great Britain at the European Championships in France.
The British number one is due to defend his Badminton crown, starting on 30 April.
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