'He gave me my life back': Horse gave woman 'inspiration' to recover from stroke and ride again

• Video report by ITV Wales Reporter Kate Lewis

A woman who survived a stroke and was left paralysed down her left side says her rescue horse Rio has helped her recovery "in every way possible".

Leanne Williams, from Barry, was taken to hospital in July by her sister after feeling unwell while driving.

The 49-year-old was told she had suffered a stroke and remained in hospital for six days before she was sent home to recover.

After returning home Leanne needed a zimmer frame and could only walk five to ten metres due to a lack of balance.

Ms Williams told ITV Wales: "It's been awful, I was a million miles an hour. I worked full time at Cardiff University, I loved the gym.

"I loved competing on my horse Rio, my family are my world so I was always running around with them.

"And this has just changed everything. I want to be that person again."

• 'Stroke is life changing'- Leanne on her recovery process

According to the Stroke Association, 26% of stroke survivors in Wales say having a stroke cost them their job, over one in ten say it impacted their relationship and some even lost their home.

Leanne adopted her horse Rio and says he "didn't have the best start in life" because he was kept in poor condition before she adopted him.

Rio has been a key part of her rehabilitation and recovery after losing the ability to walk and ride all together.

"My balance was awful and it still is. I really struggle with my right side. it's not as strong as my left.

"The poor soul, he unbalances himself to balance us both up so I have bought him a massage gun. But he's just trying to give me what I want and that's ride again.

"He understands something's not right, he's just incredible.

"I can't thank him enough, he gave me a goal. He gave me my life back."

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a sudden brain attack often caused by a loss of blood supply.

There are almost 70,000 stroke survivors in Wales, however, this figure is expected to rise significantly over the coming years.

Across the UK, over half of younger stroke survivors under the age of 50 say they have never emotionally recovered from their stroke.

Leanne's father passed away two years ago, so after also surviving a stroke, she says both events have had a huge impact on her mental health.

"With him beside me, it's been fantastic. He's been my rock. He's been that mental health support as well. He's seen me cry, but he doesn't judge me."

"When I feel like I'm going to fall, he stops. He lets me lean on him and even when I'm getting tired he knows.

"People think you're crazy, and he's just a horse but he's more than a horse."

James Hinder, Leanne's physiotherapist was 'shocked' when he found out Leanne's end goal was riding a horse.

"We've tried to link Rio into as much therapy as possible, so we have got her the exercises she needs to do because of the deficits following the stroke.

"Doing those exercises with Rio has been great and it means now she has finally has been able to ride Rio.

"She had suffered from post-stroke fatigue but it's all improving now. Her improvement is so vast and a credit to how hard she has worked."

Research from the Stroke Association shows the impact of a stroke leads many to reevaluate what is important in life.

Katie Chappelle from the Stroke Association said: "Every five minutes, someone in the UK will have a stroke and in a flash, their life is changed.

"The physical impact of a stroke is severe, but for many, the emotional aspects of coming to terms with having a stroke are just as significant.

"But, finding hope is a crucial part of the recovery process. Without it, recovery can seem impossible."