Injured para dressage star Lee Pearson competing again

Lee Pearson is back in the saddle after breaking his back and plans to be out competing again in October.

The stalwart of the British para dressage team told H&H he is hoping to take two horses to an international competition in the Netherlands.

“I’m not in any pain but I’m very stiff and very, very unfit,” he said. “This is my second week back riding and I’ve had to take off the shirt I was wearing — you could have rung it out.”

Lee fell off during a training session at the start of the summer, fracturing three vertebrae and crushing a fourth.

But he has a busy schedule lined up for the autumn, starting with the competition in Holland.

“I’ll take Gentleman [his Paralympic triple gold medalist at Beijing] and a new horse, a 10 year-old Knabstrupper stallion bought by the Lady Joseph Trust,” he said.

The trust, formed in 2009, provides horses for para riders.

Since his accident, Lee has ridden in a body protector. He said: “I’ve got to wear it for eight weeks, then the doctors say it’s up to me what I do. I haven’t decided yet — it is very restrictive and sweaty.”

And Lee’s fans will also be able to see him in action on the Spanish Riding School of Vienna’s 60th anniversary tour at Wembley Arena in November, appearing alongside Carl Hester.

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