Irish model Pippa O'Connor returned to her family home yesterday afternoon after a stint in hospital after the accident that saw her almost crushed by a horse.

Ms O'Connor (23), spent Tuesday night in St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin after the incident that occurred during an RDS photocall for the Dublin Horse Show that afternoon.

It is understood that she suffered concussion, severe bruising and shock after the Army horse on which she was sitting side-saddle for a photo flung her off before falling backwards and rolling over her.

"I'm alright, I'm really actually fine," she told the Irish Independent moments before arriving at her mother's home in Johnstown, Co Kildare. She was driven home by her partner, RTE television presenter Brian Ormonde.

Ms O'Connor, a sister of equestrian star Cian, had earlier admitted that the realisation of how fortunate she had been to escape more serious injury was beginning to sink in.

"I'm very badly bruised and shook up but I'm OK," she said. "I had a bit of a rough night. I had a few bad dreams about everything. But to be honest, it could have been a lot worse and it's only starting to sink in now how lucky I am.

"I didn't realise how serious it was at first but it's kind of slowly dawning on me now."

Her mother, Louise, said her daughter would be recuperating at home for a few days under her watchful eye.

Louise added: "She's a little stunned I think, that's the most of it.

"She's looking forward to coming out of hospital. Obviously they have treated her very well up there but she wants to get back to her own bed. She was a very lucky girl."

Results of neurological tests carried out at St Vincent's had come back clear.

The incident happened on Tuesday during a media launch at the RDS for the forthcoming Dublin Horse Show.

Ms O'Connor was asked by a photographer to sit on Ballymoney while an Army captain walked the horse towards the photographer.

However, the horse reared up and threw the model to the ground, befor e rolling over on her.