‘He makes me really feel like I can fly’: former Flat racehorse takes nationwide dressage title

The proprietor of a Flat racehorse turned nationwide dressage champion hopes her story will encourage different para riders to think about former racehorses.

Elizabeth Johnson and Vegas Boy had been topped British Dressage (BD) Grade IV bronze champions at Hartpury on 22 August, 4 months after they contested – and gained – their first BD competitors.

Elizabeth informed H&H that “Boycie”, who was skilled by Jamie Osbourne to 4 wins and 9 locations on the racetrack, is a “shining instance of the flexibility of ex-racehorses”.

Boycie, now 9, has been out of racing about three and a half years, and Elizabeth has owned him for about three.

“He’s an excellent horse, he’ll do something,” she mentioned. “My pal’s daughter does hunt races with him, and I assumed ‘He’s such a candy horse, let’s have a go at dressage’, and he’s taken to it like a duck to water.”

Elizabeth was recognized with a number of sclerosis (MS) 10 years in the past.

“It’s left me with a limp on my proper leg,” she mentioned. “I undoubtedly don’t trot up sound – I’m a rider and coaching to be a vet so the irony of that isn’t misplaced on me! However my proper leg is lots weaker, and never as efficient once I trip, in order that impacts my steadiness. However he’s tailored very well to being ridden by me, and by able-bodied riders.”

Elizabeth credit her coach Anne Marie Bork Eppers for all her assist, and the staff at Talland, who’re “completely improbable for para riders”.

“The MS does suck, however I attempt to not let it maintain me again,” she mentioned. “BD has top-of-the-line pathways for individuals with disabilities to be concerned with sport; they’re so supportive and have so many coaching and competitors alternatives, they’re wonderful.”

Elizabeth needed to be labeled at first to compete in BD para courses, then she and Boycie went to their first present, at Northallerton, in April.

“We did two exams and gained each, then went again the following month, did one other two and gained these,” she mentioned. “We had excessive sufficient percentages, and factors, that I then obtained an e-mail from BD to say we’d certified for the championships at Hartpury.

“I assumed we would as effectively go, as it could be a privilege to trip there, and my principal intention was simply to get a pleasant image!”

However in addition to the good image, Elizabeth and Boycie scored 65.95% to win the title.

“I’d by no means been in a elaborate prizegiving, with a sash, and it was nice to be in a line-up with all the opposite champions,” she mentioned. “It was good to satisfy different individuals who had determined they wouldn’t be outlined by their disabilities however would get pleasure from their horses in the easiest way they presumably can. Horses provide you with freedom; I can’t run any extra and I miss it however I trip an ex-racehorse who floats above the bottom. Having that freedom is unbelievable and it ought to be promoted extra.”

Elizabeth mentioned she was most likely the one rider on the championships with a former racehorse.

“However I feel they make sensible para horses, as a result of they’ve seen every part,” she mentioned. “They’re not spooky, or fearful by pots of flowers or white boards, as they’re lots much less thrilling than a day at Ascot. I feel extra para riders ought to think about them; Retraining of Racehorses is superb at matching individuals with horses and BD at serving to you discover the proper stage to compete at so I feel extra ex-racehorses ought to be doing para dressage.

“So many individuals after they’re asking for horses say ‘No TBs’; there’s a stereotype I’m attempting to interrupt with me and my horse. Simply since you technically have a incapacity and trip an ex-racehorse doesn’t imply individuals ought to overlook you. We’re a terrific mixture and hopefully in future we’ll see extra ex-racehorses in para dressage.”

Elizabeth described Boycie as a “full gentleman”, who anybody may trip.

“After I’m on him is the one time I don’t really feel self-conscious about my leg or my incapacity; once I trip him, that’s gone and that’s wonderful,” she mentioned. “He treats me like an equal, and he makes me really feel as if I can fly.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, by which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by to worldwide championships.