Efforts are being made to promote and grow para showjumping, as concerns are raised by riders that there has been a decline in opportunities since the pandemic.

British Showjumping (BS) said para showjumping has had “a significant boost this year with the introduction of a revised competition structure and dedicated calendar”. This includes five multi-day competitions, culminating in the BS national championships at Stoneleigh and a season finale at Arena UK in September.

Open sections have been introduced alongside existing graded classes. BS said this provides “greater flexibility” by enabling riders to compete within their grades – in which they accumulate points towards the para leagues – and in open sections at different heights.

A two-day camp was held last month at the national training centre in Leicestershire, aimed at introducing riders to the sport.

“The training provides a great opportunity for riders to get together socially as well as benefiting from training sessions and unmounted workshops on a variety of topics,” said coach Sarah Tubbs.

Para competitors have welcomed the opportunities and hope more riders will become involved – but have raised concerns over whether more can still be done.

Rider Claire Pope told H&H that since the pandemic there has been an overall decline in para showjumping opportunities.

“Since Covid some riders have stopped competing or have lost horses, and we’ve just not been able to get more people involved,” she said.

“We’ve lost shows like Bramham, which was a big showcase for us. We’ve asked for more shows and we understand that we’re a very small minority, but the communication needs to be better.”

Anna Hilton did not know about para showjumping until after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“I was trying to hammer myself around able-bodied classes, but it just wasn’t working because I don’t have the strength any more. I started Googling and that’s when I discovered para showjumping. I hadn’t seen it advertised anywhere, so I think that’s been the problem, that people just don’t know it’s an option,” she told H&H.

“Unfortunately, because there’s only a few of us in each class, some places don’t want to run para – and you can see it from their point of view. But we need more venues to get on board with putting the shows on and publicising it.

“We all joke that you have to be a little bonkers to jump with a disability, but we just love it – and that’s why we don’t want to lose it.”

Deena Webster once competed in para shows abroad through BS – but said in recent years opportunities have dropped off. She believes BS joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, as British Dressage has, could be a way to get more riders involved. Dressage riders can wear a sunflower armband or lanyard, which aims to raise awareness that they have a non-visible disability.

“The thirst for the sport is there. I’m pleased to see there are more opportunities this year but I think the whole para structure needs looking at to give people more,” Deena told H&H.

BS national director of sport Stephanie Toogood told H&H para showjumping “continues to go from strength to strength with increasing opportunities for riders to train, compete and be part of a supportive community”.

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A rider who was told she would not walk again and was put on the waiting list for amputation after she shattered her leg in a fall hopes her journey to showjumping success may help others in dark places.

Rachel Davis lost everything when she was injured five years ago; her job, the home that came with it and her horse. She spent a year immobile, with a circular frame on her leg, and in emergency council accommodation.

This year, she has jumped at the British Showjumping National Championships, and the Dodson & Horrell national amateur and veteran championships, and she has plans to go further.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” she said. “And we’re still on it; who knows where we will go.”

Rachel had ridden since childhood but only seriously in her late teens, after which she bought her first horse Harvey. She had always wanted to work in the industry, so left her job as a chef, and her home, to move into and work at a showing yard.

About a month into the job, she was mounting her first ride of the day when everything changed.

“I had just put my foot in the stirrup when I heard galloping from an adjoining field,” she said. “All the horses had been turned out and were off, and the pony I was mounting reared up vertically.

“I landed on my feet, or on one foot. If I hadn’t broken anything, it would have been quite spectacular but I completely shattered my leg; doctors told me it was doomed.”

Rachel was taken to hospital and put on the waiting list for amputation, as she was told she would not walk on the leg again.

“I think I must have been in complete shock,” she said. “When I think about it now, it’s the most awful feeling but all I remember is feeling numb, and wanting to get out of hospital; I didn’t really take in what was going on, but I was just left nailed and bolted together for days.”

Rachel says she does not know how or why the plan changed but she was moved to the Bristol Royal Infirmary and her leg put in a spatial frame; an external device with pins to hold it together, which stayed in place for over a year.

“It was brutal, barbaric,” she said. “I couldn’t drive and couldn’t do anything. I’d lost everything as I’d given up my home for the job, so I was looking at being put in a bedsit. Someone I know’s parents, who I’d never met, invited me to stay for a bit, which was great, and I got back to Somerset and ended up in emergency housing. I had no money and no way of earning any. The whole time with the frame on was the worst time of my life, I don’t know how I got through it.”

Eventually, the frame came off and Rachel had surgery to fuse her ankle, which made a huge improvement, although she has been left with issues as she cannot move her foot when riding, for example. She was given a council flat, and eventually, when she was paid compensation for the accident, was able to move out and move on.

She got her horse Harvey back, who had been with a friend while she was injured, but “it was like he wasn’t my horse any more”, she said, and she gave him to her friend to keep.

“But good things have come out of the situation,” Rachel said, adding that she came back to a point where she could look for a horse to buy, with a very limited budget.

“My friend had told me about a dressage horse, who hadn’t been ridden for some time; a sassy chestnut mare who didn’t get on with her owner,” she said. “I got talking to the owner and said no, as I couldn’t take on a horse I didn’t know if I could ride, but I couldn’t walk away. I went to see her and she was running round on the lunge, and I thought ‘Oh my god, this horse is mad’, but I bought her anyway. And the first time I rode her, she bucked me off.”

Rachel persisted, and took KWPN mare Benate (Ruby) to dressage competitions.

“But she absolutely hated dressage!” she said. “Then by chance, I was in the arena and someone had left a cross-pole up, and I thought I’d give it a go. She jumped it, changed legs, came round and jumped it again and people were looking at each other saying ‘She’s a jumper’. That was the start of our journey.”

It was not the most straightforward path, Rachel said, they were eliminated again and again at first until Rachel had a bad fall at a show, tearing ligaments in her foot, after which somehow, things clicked.

“But after that, we were flying,” she said. “We started doing so well, I decided to buy another horse.”

That horse was Dreamgirl, another KWPN mare, with whom Rachel has also enjoyed success. Both mares qualified for their grands prix at the amateur championships at Aintree last month, and both were placed in the para class at the nationals. Ruby has since been winning at 1.10m level.

“I’d never jumped in my life before the accident,” Rachel said. “So good things have come out of it; I don’t think I would have jumped otherwise, or had the ambition to go out and do it. It was all down to Ruby as she chose this, and I thank her so much for it.”

Rachel now hopes to step up to jump some bigger tracks, and would love to represent Britain in para showjumping one day, and she wants to help others who may have similar ambitions.

“I’m sure there are lots of riders who don’t understand how to become registered as a para rider, or if they can do it,” she said. “Para showjumping I’m sure would love more members and it’s so easy; you go on to the British Dressage website and fill in the form, then get graded, then you can go on to jump. I think some people might be intimidated by the thought of going affiliated so I want to spread the word and give people confidence that they can do it. I’m so grateful to the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and for waiting lists, as without that one, I’d have lost my leg.”

Rachel also hoped her comeback might help anyone currently recovering from an injury or health issue, whether mental or physical.

“I was in a state of despair in my recovery and didn’t think I’d do anything again,” she said. “But it all turned round and worked out. It’s been amazing and it shows; it took a lot to pick myself up, and get fit again, but you keep pushing through the barriers, keep getting up and going.

“A dog really helps, as it’s a commitment to go out, and the determination and want to do it. ‘I’m going to prove everyone wrong’ has been in my mind all the time; I wanted to show everyone I could do it. I show the doctors my jumping pictures and they say I’m mad but they’re happy, they said it was a miracle.

“Since this, I’ve wanted to inspire others, that you can battle on and come through something that bad; whatever it is, you can battle through and come out the other side; you just have to try.”

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Para showjumping and hidden disability campigner Evie Toombes has already achieved a great deal, despite only being 19 years old.

Evie was born with a form of Spina Bifida, which affects the nerves to her legs, bladder and bowel. She is frequently in and out of hospital and was seriously ill earlier this year, but thanks to her incredible mental strength and determination, she was recently crowned Pikeur amateur rider of the decade at the H&H Awards.

While speaking to H&H magazine editor Pippa Roome in this week’s episode of the Horse & Hound Podcast, Evie reveals how horses help her to stay positive and overcome her challenges.

“It was my neurosurgeon, who did my spinal surgery, who encouraged my mum to let me ride,” explains Evie of how her love of horses manifested itself. “He said ‘just plonk her on a horse, get her riding, get her doing something she loves and some exercise — it’ll be the best thing for her’. Since then we haven’t really looked back.”

Continued below…

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Some clever advice from Evie’s mother helped set her off on her competitive equestrian career.

“‘Find a way, not an excuse’ is my life’s motto and it’s kept me pushing through. Growing up I was always falling off and I was scared to jump — I would much rather be in the stable, grooming my pony.

“But it was when I got poorlier that I wanted to achieve something and have a bit of value in myself, so mum suggested that I start writing blogs for medical companies who made the types of products I was using. I did and they paid me for it, so mum said ‘great, now you can go to a show and buy your entries with the money’.

“Both writing and then being able to go out and compete gave me a sense of achievement and made everything worthwhile, and since then it’s become a bit of an addiction.”

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In our 28th weekly episode of the first series of The Horse & Hound Podcast, H&H’s podcast host Pippa Roome chats to para showjumping and hidden disability campigner Evie Toombes about how horses help her to stay positive and overcome her challenges. Moving on to the week’s top news stories, our news team join Pippa to discuss wage increases, transport for slaughter and Covid rule breaches. We also catch up with vet Ricky Farr, to talk about equine weight management during the winter.

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In episode 28, inspirational para showjumper and recently crowned Pikeur amateur rider of the decade at the H&H Awards, 19-year-old Evie Toombes, talks to H&H podcast host Pippa Roome about how horses have helped her, why she’s such a big fan of riding schools and warns against writing people off based on their weaknesses, instead of considering their strengths.

H&H podcast host Pippa Roome is joined by H&H news editor Eleanor Jones, senior news writer Lucy Elder and news writer Becky Murray to discuss some of the week’s key stories, including increases to the minimum wage and changes to rules around the living wage that are coming in next April, the Government’s consultation around the rules controlling transport for animals for slaughter and high profile Covid rule breaches in the racing world.

In this week’s advice section we catch up with equine vet Ricky Farr of Farr & Pursey Equine about why it’s important to use the winter to help overweight horses get back to healthy levels of condition.

We hope you will enjoy our latest episode and would love to hear your feedback, so please do send your thoughts to pippa.roome@futurenet.com

H&H Plus podcast: episode 28

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As told to Kate Johnson

Evie Toombes, para showjumper and disability campaigner, on living with an invisible illnesses, her accidental foray into grand prix and meeting Prince Harry…

I classified as a para rider six years ago, aged 12. I was the youngest in the UK and the first to be registered as junior. It was just after one of my main surgeries; I was lost. I had no school friends because I’d missed so much time.

I went to horses for comfort and a pick-me-up. I wanted something that gave me value, that I could enjoy, that made all the months in hospital worthwhile. That’s exactly what it did. Even as things got more complicated with my health, horses have been the constant.

I was born with spina bifida; there’s a fatty tumour wrapped around the nerves to my legs, bladder and bowel at the base of my spinal cord. All of that means tube feeding, four hours of treatment each night for my gut, I catheterise every three hours, wear night splints and do two hours of physio a day. I’m attached to tubes for sometimes 24 hours a day. If I’m riding, it’s 23 hours, and I’m no longer a patient for those 60 minutes.

After I had neurosurgery at about 18 months, Mum asked the surgeon, “How much do I let her do? Should we wrap her in cotton wool?” He said, “Let her live her life.” He knew Mum had horses and he did too. He said, “Get her riding a pony bareback. It’ll help her legs and back. If she falls off, plonk her back on.” It was literally doctor’s orders to get me to live my life to the full.

I’d been doing OK in British Showjumping. But after a round when my feet were slipping from my stirrups and I couldn’t kick – I can’t feel my legs below the knee – a course-builder said, “You could be registered as a para showjumper and get some help, like capped stirrups so your feet don’t go through, and compete in para classes.”

I thought I wasn’t disabled enough, but my local RDA said, in the nicest way, “You definitely are.” When you’re always trying to fight it and encourage yourself to get out there, you don’t realise how much you’re struggling. If you admitted it you’d probably give in to it.

Growing up I was convinced I was the only disabled person on the planet; I looked normal so no one understood why I was exhausted and throwing up. I wanted to explain but I hate the whole pity party; I want encouragement.

Competing at Pferd International in 2018 was a wonderful achievement. Sarah Wicks, a fellow para, travelled my mare Daisy over there for me; she helped my dreams come true. We were third on the first day.

On the last day, we were going clear in the jump-off in the main international arena and we turned inside a 1.50m grand prix fence. Daisy, loving the atmosphere, locked on to it, jumped and cleared it, and carried on with our para 90cm course. It was the best elimination ever!

The past year’s been turbulent; my health took the biggest dive yet. We were quite scared – I had no strength, we lost a lot of hope. Even then, I’d sit in the car half asleep while Mum tacked Daisy up and put me on – I’d ride round the village holding on to my saddle. Daisy can go from an all-guns-blazing competition horse to “I’ll look after you” donkey mode.

I visit primary schools to educate younger people on invisible illnesses. Being poorly you feel judged, worried about upsetting people or asking too much, so I wanted to shed a positive light; I’m a para showjumper and chronically ill.

I won a WellChild award; it’s a charity for seriously ill children and Prince Harry is a patron. I met him and Meghan the summer they were married, it was a pinnacle. We joked about gingers being fantastic, Daisy being a chestnut, and Meghan said she’d seen my blog. It was amazing to hear how enthusiastic they were.

Para showjumping is slowly making its way to the Paralympics; I’d love to see myself there. If I’m not on a horse, I’ll definitely be there cheering everyone else on.

H&H 22 October 2020

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A rider who first took the reins after she lost her sight hopes to campaign for para showjumping’s inclusion in the Paralympics – and inspire others to follow their dreams.

Wren Blae Zimmerman, from Kentucky, US, competes in 1m classes and hopes to move up to 1.10m this month, despite the fact she was registered blind some years ago.

The 30-year-old was diagnosed with a rare degenerative eye condition aged 17. Within a few years, she was legally blind. She told H&H her central sight is now blank, but she has some limited blurry peripheral vision.

“The disease gets significantly worse and then plateaus,” she said. “About two months ago, I had another decrease in vision, then it stopped. I don’t know when or if it will get worse again.”

Wren has always loved horses but when she was a child, her parents had neither the means nor the inclination to support lessons.

“They thought it was too dangerous, which it is!” she said. “But after college, I started riding. I went to a therapeutic centre and because my disability wasn’t as significant as some people there, they let me exercise their horses and I taught myself the basics.

“I always wanted to jump, but the instructor told me it really wasn’t possible.”

Wren said it was difficult to find a trainer but she eventually met a “gung-ho” woman willing to try.

“She put me on a school horse and about four weeks later, said: ‘We’re going to a show’,” she said. “I hadn’t even jumped a course by then; I was doing cross-rails, but she said ‘Let’s go, and see how it goes’ – and I got champion of my division.”

Wren was able to ride her trainer’s former grand prix showjumper, with whom she competed up to 1m, but two years ago, she decided to move from Oregon to Kentucky, the “epicentre of the US horse world”, to pursue her dream.

She said she was lucky enough to find another former grand prix horse, who she credits for teaching her a great deal. And she believes there is a debate over whether the fact she only learned to ride after she lost her sight was beneficial.

“I see these little girls riding and think if I’d had that background, experience and comfort level wiith horses, I’d be a better rider now; the more seat time, the better,” she said. “So I wish I’d had that growing up. But I’ve got feel for the horse solely as a visually impaired person; I don’t know anything else, so maybe it’s easier that I didn’t have to change my style of riding as I lost my vision.”

Wren prepares for her showjumping rounds in “meticulous fashion”.

She walks the arena with an aide before the jumps are put up, the perimeter, half- and quarter-lines, essentially dividing it into a grid and getting a sense of the space. She then goes back in once the fences are up so she knows where each is, while her aide tells her how far away each is and at what angle, giving her a “mental map” of the obstacles.

Her aide draws the course plan on a whiteboard or large piece of paper in bright colours, which she can see as blurs with her peripheral vision to get an idea of the lines she will ride. She then goes back to the arena with her trainer to walk the course, walking every stride. Once in the ring, her trainer can communicate through an earpiece if she is ever off her line.

Asked what it is she enjoys about showjumping, Wren said: “There are two aspects. On a personal level, there’s freedom in it. I can’t drive or do simple things like grocery shopping; you lose a lot of independence with your vision but when you ride, the horse lends you its eyes – it’s freedom from the disability you live with every day.”

Also, Wren says, she is very competitive.

“Through my competition, I do what people told me I couldn’t, and I’m proving them wrong,” she said. “But I also want to change the perception of what people who are blind or visually impaired are capable of.

“People have preconceived notions of what’s possible but when they see me jump, then find out I’m blind, they think ‘Now, wait a minute’. My goal is to create more opportunities for other disabled people to be able to ride, and to inspire them.”

Wren says she has heard from many people with disabilities who compete in dressage but want to jump, or who jump but want to move up a level, and she hopes to fight for them.

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The US has para dressage as a sport but not para showjumping. “But just because it hasn’t been done, doesn’t mean it can’t be,” said Wren, who is working with the US and Canadian equestrian federations to try to promote para showjumping, as well as raising awareness of the sport as a whole.

This year, she plans to run demo classes at major shows – while also trying to raise the $20,000 (£15,450) she needs to keep the lease on her 17hh Cassini I horse Cassicasca for another year.

“I don’t always get it right but he makes up for what I lack,” she said.

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A young rider and film-maker campaigning for showjumping to be included in the Paralympics says the last year has been a “breathtaking experience”.

Ashleigh Harley, who suffers from connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, has been making a documentary to raise awareness of para showjumping, while also meeting officials with the aim of the sport becoming part of the Paralympics in future (news, 9 May 2019).

Ashleigh’s filming has taken her to the Horse of the Year Show, where she rode Tim Stockdale’s King George V-winning ride Kalico Bay, to a ride at Bath Racecourse, and the British Showjumping National Championships in August, where she met and filmed para riders including Evie Toombes.

She hopes the film will be ready to view this spring, and that it will help change perceptions.

“The weird thing is that every time we roll the cameras, it’s exactly as I imagined and hoped it would be,” Ashleigh told H&H.

“I’ve never had that with a film before; for something to come out exactly as you hoped. It’s been a breathtaking experience, and as my health has been getting worse, this has been the only thing keeping me going.”

As part of the project, Ashleigh also met para equestrian committee chairman Amanda Bond, at the FEI para equestrian forum in France last year.

“Different countries need to agree the rules and standards for it to become an international sport but it was a really positive experience,” Ashleigh said.

“Everyone was so supportive. Of course there were concerns about things like safety, but when you see how incredible the riders are, and the amazing bond they have with the horses, you can see there’s something special there.

“I hope when people see this film they’ll be blown away by what these riders are doing and support this sport, because it’s life-changing.

“What I really want is for any horse person watching the film to come away knowing it doesn’t matter what adversity they’re dealing with, they can be anything they want to be. And of course with horses, who are such good friends, you’re not different.

“Having an illness or disability can make you feel so alone and separate, but the human-horse partnership gives you the sense of being part of something.

“I hope this film will let people see all this with their own eyes, and then action can be taken.”

An FEI spokesman told H&H Ms Bond’s meeting with Ashleigh, during which she was filmed for the documentary, was “very positive”.

“Amanda describes Ashleigh as a ‘truly special person’ and was very impressed by her passion and commitment to para equestrian sport,” he said.

“She has recommended Ashleigh continues to work towards her goal through collaboration with, initially, the British Equestrian Federation, and with the ultimate aim of creating a well-structured competition format and sufficient global participation that will allow a proposal to be put to the FEI.”

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A rider who has no vision in one eye and almost none in the other took a win at the British Showjumping national championships – on a horse he had ridden only once before.

Ronnie Robinson, 14, and In a World of His Own took the junior grade IV para title on Friday (9 August).

Ronnie told H&H he can see 2cm in front of him in one eye, and has some sense of colours, but that is all.

“When we walk the course, I learn the jumps by their colour, then my mum stands in the ring with me and says ‘Turn now!’” he explained, adding that when it comes to finding the right stride, “I just hope the horse does it”.

Ronnie was born with his condition but started helping his sisters, who rode, at the age of six, then got in the saddle himself soon afterwards.

His mother Karen explained that Ronnie’s skill at “mapping” helps him learn courses, as he walks exactly the lines he will ride, as well as noting the colours of the jumps.

“In the championship, he went to the wrong fence and I had to scream at him, and he managed to pull out in time,” she told H&H. “He can see blobs of colour so we use that to help learn courses but that doesn’t always work – at one show, all the jumps were white!”

In a World of His Own was borrowed from a fellow para rider for the occasion – and the one show beforehand at which Ronnie had ridden him.

“The owner told me we could trust him implicitly,” Karen said, adding that she is looking for another suitable horse for Ronnie.

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“He’s never been treated any differently to anyone else, he’s not wrapped in cotton wool,” she said. “I didn’t want him to ride but he asked his consultant himself, which is how it came about.

“The sight he’s got is fragile, so if he fell and hit his head he could lose it; it’s a real worry but he has to do what makes him happy.

“He doesn’t want to be seen as different to anyone else, and he hasn’t let [his condition] stop him from doing anything.”

And Ronnie added: “I just want to inspire other people to do what they want to do – and hopefully make it to the Paralympics one day.”

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A showjumper who returned to competition after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) hopes to inspire others to “keep trying”.

Laura Goodall, 24, from Shropshire, started suffering from unexplained symptoms in October 2014.

“When I was jumping I would get blurred vision and when my core temperature got warm my muscles would go weak and I would fall off for no reason. At times I struggled to walk and I began having panic attacks,” Laura told H&H.

“Things got worse and worse – when you get stressed your symptoms can get worse so it got to the stage I would be falling over or dropping things – I couldn’t even tack a horse up. My last show was in July 2015 and I had a massive panic attack at a county show in front of a load of people and decided that was enough. I stopped riding completely in the end because things got so dangerous.”

In October 2015 Laura was diagnosed with MS after almost 100 blood tests during the previous year and a MRI scan.

“It felt like everything had crumbled and couldn’t be fixed or get better. It felt like that was it and I thought it’s only going to get worse from here on, I’ll be in a wheelchair and unable to ride again,” said Laura.

“The doctors didn’t want me on any treatment for a year because they had to judge how many relapses I was having. I had five, which is quite severe in terms of MS – some people only have one relapse in 10 years. A relapse is different every time and tends to last me six to eight weeks at a time – I’ve had one where I can’t feel from my knees down or one side goes weak and I get constant pins and needles, I’ve gone blind in one eye for eight weeks. The doctors had seen enough and I was started on medication in summer 2016.”

Laura returned to riding that summer.

“Riding felt horrible to start with – I really struggled,” said Laura. “The movement of the horse was horrendous, I couldn’t trot and would fall off the side. If I was hacking and heard a noise I couldn’t turn my head to have a look at what it was or I’d completely lose my balance.

“Once further into my treatment it all got a little bit better, things calmed down and I got it under control and it was nice to be back riding.”

Laura started jumping again in October 2017 and started competing in para showjumping in 2018.

“My first show was October 2017 – I just decided ‘I want to go to a show and I’m going to do it’, so I did. I was so happy I cried out my eyes out when I came out of the ring because I hadn’t fallen off and nothing had gone wrong, I was so happy,” she said.

“I carried on competing and in 2018 I took Nessa to my first para show. Nessa is quite unpredictable and proved her point there and threw me off so I only got halfway round.”

After retiring Nessa from showjumping and putting her in foal, Laura bought seven-year-old mare Suzie in 2018 who she hopes to continue showjumping with.

“Nessa has been fantastic but she’s not a very suitable para-horse, she is so exciteable. She can be a lot of effort between fences and very unpredictable which would make me really warm and I can struggle to hold on to her. I decided to get something I could stop if I needed to and who would be a bit kinder to me,” said Laura.

“I have been classified as grade III for para showjumping and plan to do both para and able-bodied. My aim is to go to all the para shows this year and it would be nice to go on the international circuit. I just hope I don’t have another relapse which stops me competing. The doctors say to move your muscles and do as much exercise as you can to keep things at bay, I ride as much as I can and have a personal trainer twice a week and I see my chiropractor once a week which has been a massive help. The more training I do, the better my muscles get which helps in the ring if they do get a bit weak, as at least they’re a bit stronger to begin with.”

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Laura hopes to inspire other riders who are thinking about para riding.

“I’m a very determined person so the more I did, the more I wanted to try. I had got to the stage where I thought I’ll never compete again and people said ‘you don’t need to compete, look at what you’ve done and think of the memories’ – that was hard to accept,” said Laura.

“Since sharing my story I’ve had people message me asking how I’ve kept going and asking about para riding – I had no one to speak to at the time so it’s nice to speak to people and help them. If you really want to do it, and it’s something you love, keep trying – don’t let something beat you. I was told it’s impossible and it’s not going to happen but I’ve made it happen, if you work hard enough you’ll get there, don’t let things get the better of you.”

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Despite being profoundly deaf and autistic and having learning disabilities, para showjumper and Riding for the Disabled (RDA) rider Matt Dalley had a busy yet successful weekend at the RDA National Championships (13-15 July at Hartpury, Gloucestershire), jumping the only clear to win the Grade II class. He also scored 71.5% in the Grade IV dressage championship for sixth place, all riding his 15-year-old gelding Wimbledon II, aka Womble. On Sunday he was awarded a gold medal for the RDA’s online dressage championships, and all this while updating social media pages for a variety of different RDA channels and training his assistance dog Rolo. Is there anything this guy can’t do?

“I’m profoundly deaf so communicate through sign language,” said Matt. “I was born with a brain condition which has affected my muscle strength and coordination, particularly on the right side of my body, so I’m quite weak on that side. It’s difficult for me to co-ordinate myself and I don’t have great use of my hands, which affects me quite a lot when I’m riding. I am autistic as well and have learning difficulties.

“The RDA have really helped me develop and given me lots of opportunities, both on a horse and off, to become who I am today. I do the social media for my RDA group and for the RDA region, and help with publicity for the national office as well. I love it because it’s a really great way for me to communicate and stay in touch with people.”

Matt has been based at the Scropton RDA group in Derbyshire, who celebrated their Jubilee year in 2015, since he was six-years-old. He has progressed from riding ponies on the lead-rein to competing successfully in both dressage and showjumping at British Dressage prelim level and British Showjumping 80cm level, as well as riding in para showjumping events and even jumping in the Special Olympics.

“I started competing at the RDA National Championships in 2005 and have always really enjoyed the chance to be able to compete and be involved in the team,” continued Matt. “It’s a great thing to do and I make lots of friends being here. It started with dressage doing a walk and trot test and that has developed into where I am now. My dream would be to have para showjumping at the Olympics.”

Matt bought his faithful steed Womble a year ago.

“He’s always been a showjumper so he’s very experienced and has improved my jumping a lot. He is a super horse and we are working really well together. I’ve got a great coach Jayne Hughes who works with me and rides Womble, so she knows us both well and can get the best out of us. I have an air-filled saddle which helps minimise my imbalance because I am one sided. I use special reins which help me grip them, and I use magnetic stirrups which help keep my feet in place.”

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Outside of horses, Matt sees a sport therapist regularly.

“My sport therapist Anna Mulrenan is a rider herself, so she knows how to help me and gives me exercises that will help with my riding. We look at videos of my riding and find areas that need working on and she then helps with my strength and core.”

Matt also enjoys spending time with his assistance dog Rolo.

“I am training her to be an assistance dog,” he said. “She has been living with me for six months now and I’m loving it. She’s such a good companion. She is very good with the horses and it makes me feel calm and gives me confidence when I’m out and about with her. She is the next most important thing after riding.”

“I really cant thank the RDA enough for everything they have done and continue to do for me. I hope to stay a part of the RDA for a long time.”

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A British para rider kept a cool head when she accidentally jumped a 1.50m fence in a 90cm class.

Evie Toombes was riding as part of the British contingent at Pferd International München on 12 and 13 May.

The 16-year-old was enjoying a successful show, finishing third in a class on the first day of competition aboard her own High Offley Business Centre (“Daisy”).

On Saturday, the pair were competing in a 90cm speed class in the main arena. Evie tried to take a tight turn inside one of the CSI3* fences, but Daisy locked on to the huge upright and cleared it with ease.

“I was just so focused on my next fence because I was up on the clock,” said Evie.

“I picked her up and carried on, I thought Mum was going to tell me off when I came out the ring!

“I’ve been begging Mum to let me jump classes that are larger than 1m and I think even Daisy was trying to drop a hint.”

Evie’s mum, Caroline, told H&H they call the 15-year-old British-bred mare “Big Momma” because of how she looks after Evie.

“It’s like she said, ‘sit tight — I’ve got this’. The judge was fantastic as he didn’t [ring the] bell — he congratulated her when she finished despite her elimination for taking the wrong course.”

Evie has a form of spina bifida, which affects her lower leg strength, bladder and bowel. She has also had a nasal gastric tube for two years as her stomach struggles to process food.

She can only ride for short periods due to her condition, but despite this and the fact she is in constant pain, her motto is to “find a way, not an excuse”.

In 2017, she was presented with the inaugural Hannah Francis Award for courage and inspiration.

“Looking after Evie is like maintaining a Formula One car with constant work behind the scenes to achieve optimum performance,” added Caroline.

“We bought Daisy last year from some very good friends, Nik and Ellie Stevenson — I wouldn’t let Evie try her at first because I said she was too big, but thank god she did.

“It’s very tricky to find a suitable horse but it helps when they love their job so much.”

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Evie’s health is constantly monitored and they only received the final nod to go to Germany three days before they left.

They travelled with fellow grade III para rider Sarah Wicks, who finished second in Thursday’s class aboard her own Avalon Mill.

Caroline added that she is hopeful more para grades will be given the green light to compete at the show next year and encouraged riders to put themselves forwards for grading.

“There are possibly many current riders out there who don’t realise they may be eligible for para grading,” said Caroline.

“They can still jump in able-bodied British Showjumping classes, as Evie and many others do, but if they’re classified they can also use their additional aids, for example Evie is allowed a stick in each hand and capped stirrups if she needs them.

“I often hear ‘but I’m not disabled enough’, however it is about getting the help you may need.

“We only discovered this when a course builder saw Evie struggling at a show as she tired towards the end of a course.

“There are some wonderful competitions and opportunities to cater for para alongside standard classes.”

For more information, contact British Showjumping or the Riding for the Disabled Association.

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This week’s edition (17 May) features a full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show, including all the showing, showjumping and dressage action. We go behind the scenes with the Household Cavalry as they prepare for the royal wedding, plus check out our interview with Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A catch ride helped save the day for a young rider at the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) championships.

Ronnie Robinson, 12, has a severe visual impairment, but does not let it stop him from enjoying his “love” of showjumping.

Ronnie takes part in para competitions with his veteran pony Ardcarrig Snowball, who has been in his family for 13 years.

He travelled from Norfolk to Hartpury in Gloucestershire for the championships on 14 July.

However, on arrival it was found that the pony’s flu jab had been given days too early under the competition’s rules.

Ronnie’s mother Karen Robinson told H&H he was “devastated”.

Several people offered ponies for Ronnie to ride and he clicked with the “fantastic” Mr Pebbles.

“They flew around the course and I had my heart in my mouth,” said Karen, who calls for Ronnie in the ring so he knows where the fences are.

The round secured the victory for Ronnie in the grade IV jumping, and Mr Pebbles shone further by coming second with his usual rider, Evie Toombes (pictured, below), in the grade III competition.

Evie was presented with the inaugural Hannah Francis Award for talent, courage and inspiration in April.

The 15-year-old was born with a form of spina bifida, which affects her lower legs, bladder and bowel.

She continues to ride and compete despite the challenges she faces, and also supports and mentors other young people to have the confidence to take up activities.

Evie’s mother Caroline Toombes told H&H Mr Pebbles had been lent to Evie by some close friends.

“Mr Pebbles is immense fun as he loves his job and has a forgiving nature — a perfect combination for any child — if Carlsberg made ponies, it would be him,” she said.

She added that Evie was adamant Ronnie should ride the pony if he felt confident, so a quick phone call to the owners in Ireland gave Ronnie his chance to compete.

“It was incredible to witness Ronnie being guided round the course by his mum in the centre and Mr Pebbles trying to help,” she said.

“I cannot stress enough what a huge achievement that was for Ronnie and shows his depth of determination with this wonderful pony.”

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At Evie’s previous para showjumping competition, Ms Robinson had given her the ride on a pony belonging to Ronnie’s sister to help build her confidence after a fall.

“Incidents like this show what the sport and people involved are all about,” said Ms Toombes.

Evie added she was “so pleased” to see Ronnie and Mr Pebbles get on so well.

“He’s such a genuine pony who tries his best every time you ride him, so I knew he would take care of Ronnie,” she told H&H.

“Ronnie was not only incredibly brave jumping on a pony he had never ridden before, but also rode a perfect round under such pressure and stress.

“Pebbles was amazing as always that day — I’m so pleased he was suitable for Ronnie and he was able to compete successfully — he really did deserve to have such a successful show after the morning he had had.

“Although we all had our hearts in our mouths, Pebbles will always look after his rider and jump what’s in front of him, he’s so special to us all.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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Leading the campaign for more opportunities for para showjumpers, former international showjumper Dame Emma-Jane Brown is bringing together Britain's top para showjumpers for a training weekend at Arena UK on 29-31 January 2016. Disabled rider Karen Bostock, 53, from Yorkshire, explains why the opportunity to compete means so much to her

My life before the accident was wonderful. I was 24 years old, pursuing my dream of working with horses. I managed a competition yard of 42 horses, and particularly loved breaking, schooling and competing the young horses.

Then, on 14 July 1987, I had a freak car accident that changed my life forever. I can’t remember anything about it — all I know is that my car crashed through a post-and-rail fence, and one of the posts went through the windscreen, and through me, impaling me to my car seat.

The post took out my collarbone, chest wall and two ribs, rotated my shoulder, fractured my spine and punctured a lung. Somehow, I survived — but the doctors told me I’d never walk, have children or ride again.

Determined to prove them wrong, I was back on my feet within a year and went on to have two children, Emma, now 27, and Jack, 24. However, it was by no means plain sailing. I have serious mobility issues — with so many bones missing, my right side is very weak, and I can’t walk unassisted for long — and am in constant, acute pain.

I couldn’t imagine ever riding again. As a disabled mum with two children to look after, it seemed like an impossible dream.

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‘My thoughts turned to horses’

But once the children were teenagers, my thoughts turned to horses once more. A keen equestrian, my daughter Emma encouraged me to start riding again, too. One day, I saw an advertisement for a para showjumping competition that really intrigued me. I hadn’t ridden in 20 years, but I wanted to compete!

A good friend put me on her horse — it was like riding a bike, despite my mobility issues, and in that first session, we popped a few cross poles. It felt so good. I took the horse to the para showjumping competition — and we won our class!

That was it, I was bitten by the horsey bug once more. Emma found me a lovely safe horse, Chouss, a 15.1hh Welsh Warmblood, now 14, and I have a fantastic trainer, Michael Potter.

For disabled riders like me, riding is therapy. On the ground, I can’t move fast or easily, but on the horse, I’m free. I forget about the constant pain and enjoy myself. It’s like a physio session for me every time I — I can’t move my own arm and leg, but the motion of the horse does it for me.

Campaigning for change

But I can’t compete on equal footing against able-bodied riders — my limited mobility means I’d be at a huge disadvantage in a jump-off, and as a Grade One/Two disabled rider, I can’t jump higher than 70cms. Last year, there were only three shows that catered for para showjumpers – SCOPE, the National Championships at Stoneleigh, and the RDA show.

That’s why it’s so important that Emma-Jane Brown is campaigning for change, for more competitions for para showjumpers. I’d love to see showjumping entered into the Paralympics, but what I’d really like to see are more opportunities for para showjumpers at club level.

‘Never give up’ is my motto. Riding has transformed my life once more — it would just be fantastic if there were the same opportunities for disabled riders like me as there are for the able-bodied.

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British Showjumping (BS) is to hold a series of para showjumping training days early this year to address a growing demand.

Interest has been rising steadily since the London Olympics and Paralympics. 9 more para riders joined BS last year, which has resulted in “giant developmental steps”, said Rebecca Turner, BS sport team administrator.

The para training days organised will be aimed at improving coaches’ confidence to teach para riders, increase the number of BS trainers available and identify a network of coaches with an interest in doing so. They will also offer para jumpers the opportunity to develop their riding skills and knowledge.

“We are still planning, but we want one in the north and one in the south during January or February,” said Ms Turner.

Para showjumper Toby Bevins (pictured below), 21, recorded the UK’s top result at a para showjumping event in La Baule, France, last summer.

Toby, who is paralysed down one side, told H&H: “There are lots more opportunities and support, but we need more people — particularly blind riders — to give us a bit more of a challenge.”

BS is working with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) to help grass roots RDA riders to progress to BS competition.

Doug Smith, RDA showjumping committee member and former organiser of the RDA annual championships, said people could start from the “lowest levels upwards”.

Toby Bevins added: “Para riders have always wanted to jump.

“Numbers are still small, and the public still needs convincing that people with disabilities can and want to jump — but we’re working on awareness and acceptance, like para dressage did all those years ago.”

Any coaches or volunteers interested in becoming involved should contact Rebecca.Turner@britishshowjumping.co.uk

Para jumping’s achievements in 2013

• 9 new para jumpers joined BS, which now has 25 active para jumping members
• The National Para Club Championships were held for the first time at Bishop Burton College on 18 August, as part of British Showjumping’s Northern Club Championships
• A record 14 riders competed in a para jumping demonstration at the Scope Festival on 28 August
• 6 riders — sponsored by KBIS — competed at an international para jumping event at La Baule, including a win for Toby Bevins in the amateur 1.10m section. Britain sent 3 riders to the event last year.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (3 January 2014). Pictures courtesy of British Showjumping

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Para showjumping will become a Riding for the Disabled (RDA) activity next year, with disabled adults and young people being encouraged to take it up.

RDA chief executive Ed Bracher said: “By 2011, showjumping will be integrated and become part of our competition structure.”

“We are working with British Showjumping [BS] to introduce a training pathway for coaches and to ensure there is a clear provision for riders of all abilities to progress.”

He said increasing demand and the push for para jumping to become an international sport led to the move.

But at the top end of the sport, tensions have risen between the British Para Show Jumping Association (BPSJA) and BS.

BS took over running para classes last year.

Although a British team competed at La Baule this year, no national competitions have been run in that period.

“We’re fed up with it so we are taking back running shows again ourselves,” said BPSJA chairman Andy Lawes.

“We agreed they should take over, but they have done nothing.”

A BPSJA show will be held at Forest Edge Arena in Norfolk on 18-19 December, with a general meeting on 18 December, to allow the 35 members to decide what to do.

“Our members are dotted all over the country so we’d like to run three regional qualifiers and a final next year. We have to keep up the momentum to encourage other riders,” added Andy.

But BS chief executive Iain Graham says its focus has been on the RDA to encourage para jumping at grass-roots level.

He said: “I can understand Andy’s frustration but there are currently only 30-odd riders and they already ride in mainstream BS classes.

“Our long-term goal is to get para showjumping accepted by the FEI and into the Paralympics, but our plan this year was to link up with the RDA and get more disabled people jumping.”

BPSJA members are graded from one (blindness and partial sight) to the most severe disabilities at grade four, including amputees.

This article was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound, 11 November ’10

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Three disabled show jumpers had to shelve their plans for a 13,000 foot sky dive on Wednesday, despite training for hours.

Emily Lawes of Bexhill, East Sussex, Alison Betteley from Essex and Rachel Maddocks, also from Essex, were be joined by Emily’s husband Andy for the tandem parachute jump at Headcom Parachute Club in Kent.

The riders are members of the British Para Show Jumping Association (BPSJA), whose aim is to get para show jumping recognised as a Paralymic sport by 2016.

But despite a full day of training the riders never got to jump as low cloud meant the visability was too poor for them to go up.

Andy, who is the chairman of the BPSJA, said: “We want to raise awareness of the availability to disabled and visually impaired people of a sport some thought they would never be able to take part in again.

“We hope to have another attempt in a couple of weeks’ time.”

The idea for the jump came from the quizzical looks BSPJA members get when they say they do para jumping.

“I get the same question asked to me time and time again — so you parachute onto your horse?” said Andy.

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Show jumping for riders with a physical disability is moving a step closer to becoming recognised by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) with the formation of a set of rules and a new British association.

The British Para Show Jumping Association (BPSJA) was set up in February and aims to encourage people into the sport, with promotion, training and shows.

The BPSJA has 30 members so far, with disabilities graded from one (blindness and partial sight) to the most severe at grade four, which includes amputees.

BPSJA chairman Andrew Lawes said: “We cannot cater for riders with conceptual handicaps [learning difficulties] because of FEI rules, but there are many riders in this country who are competing despite their disabilities, including my wife.

“Our first blind and visually-impaired members will take part in our competition in August.

“Our aim is to get para show jumping accepted in the Paralympics, but realistically that won’t happen for some time.”

The BPSJA has been working with the British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) and the FEI to create gradings and rules and Jonquil Solt, chairman of the FEI Paralympic equestrian committee,hopes para show jumping will be included in FEI approved disciplines next year.

The first UK para show jumping competition took place in Sussex last August (news, 10 May 2007), and the BSJA and BPSJA are organising a number of classes this summer, including at the BSJA Area 42 Show at Wiltshire College in Chippenham on 28 June and an international competition at the Showground, Chepstow from 15-17 August.

Para show jumper Louise Hacker said: “Para dressage is now accepted across the world, and we want the same for para show jumping. There are a lot of us taking part in BSJA competitions and we want to open it up to more riders.”

Visit www.bpsja.co.uk

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (19 June, ’08)

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