A preschool dance class teacher was forced to axe sessions just two weeks after launching after breaking her back in a riding accident.

Sarah Kayes from Wouldham, bought the Tappy Toes franchise back in July, and began running her business from the Barming Pavilion at the end of September.

"It was nerve-racking, but so exciting," said the 38-year-old. "The kids and parents were lovely, and once I was there teaching, it was fine.

"We help to build their confidence and social skills. It’s a lot of fun, and provides active classes that are great for bonding.

"One of the best things about it is seeing the children develop and grow."

Tappy Toes are 30-minute classes of dance and movement for babies and toddlers, aged from six months to five years.

The national company is run by Claire Munday, with franchises owned by residents in each area.

Sarah added: "It was a really nice launch and then two weeks in I had my accident.

"I had to phone up everybody saying I wouldn't be able to teach for at least two months, and I would have to postpone until January – I was gutted."

At the beginning of October, Sarah broke two of her vertebrae and bruised her nose in a frightening horse riding incident.

She was taking her five-year-old daughter, Violet Eve, to a riding school after the youngster decided to get into the hobby after Covid.

"Over the summer they weren’t doing any classes, so I found on Facebook a lady advertising for help with 13 rescue horses," Sarah said.

"It was only down the road, and I really wanted to be back around horses again, and it gave my daughter the opportunity as well.

"Because they are rescue, they're all very nervous and you know they are going to be a bit of a challenge."

Sarah has been an equestrian since she was three, with a brief period during her 20s when she wasn't riding.

She explained: "I was with my favourite horse that day, Darcy – she's five years old but can be very unsure and easily panic.

"Everything seemed fine, but we had forgotten to turn off the electric fence.

"Darcy came to say 'hello' to some people nearby, touched her nose at the perimeter and that was it.

"She was bucking and rearing, I held on for as long as I could, but on the fourth or fifth time I came off."

Landing awkwardly on her right-hand side, Sarah's hat also sharply came down across the front of her face onto her nose.

She says however that she was very lucky not to have come off worse, adding: "I would much rather have a bruise than a broken head.

"I laid there for a bit feeling winded, and everyone came over asking if I was okay.

"I kept saying I was fine, but as I tried to get up I realised something doesn’t feel right – I was in a lot of pain.

"As I got up, I felt as though I was going to blackout, so I sat down again and recovered."

Despite sensing something was wrong, the dance teacher went back home, even though family members were telling her to go to hospital.

"The thought of sitting in A&E put me off," she said. "By 9pm, I realised I should have gone, as I could barely lift my right leg up.

"My mum took me the next day at 10am to Maidstone Hospital where we spent 14 hours waiting for a diagnosis.

"The first four were in minor and the rest in major injuries, with us leaving just after 1am the next day."

Due to the injury only being able to heal on its own, Sarah was instructed to rest for at least four to six weeks, with it potentially taking up to three months for the pain to go away.

"It was devastating and eventually dawned on me that I was in complete denial," she said.

"I had some days that were pretty dark, I just wanted to get back to normal.

"But all the parents were really understanding and wishing me well."

The experience hasn’t scared her from riding, although she joked that she would “probably wear a body protector next time”.

Sarah relaunches her classes on Monday, January 9 at Lakes Village Hall in Amisse Drive, Snodland, and Wednesday, January 11 at Barming Pavilion in Church Lane.

Visit the Tappy Toes website here if you want to find out more or book a space.

She added: "I can’t wait to start up again and meet all the new people. I’m getting inpatient now, I just want to do it."