What would you do if you were told you would not walk again, let alone get back on your horse? For Rowan Caley this was the traumatic situation she faced nine-years-ago when she broke her neck in a car accident.

“I was told I would never walk again but the thing that I was most concerned about was riding again,” she explained. And proving everyone wrong she managed to get back on her feet and within a few months was back on her horse.

Rowan, who was left with a weakness in her right hand side, said: “Until recently I was just hacking around the roads but I missed the competitive side of things. Before the accident my main discipline was show-jumping and being rather proud I didn’t want to go back into this as I wasn’t as good as I was before.”

And after watching the Paralympics and seeing the

Para

dressage she thought it would be a great way to get back into competition and starting having lessons with a local dressage coach near her home on the Isle of Man.

Para-equestrian dressage has been growing during the past few years and is open to riders of any age whose disability has been classified by the RDA or FEI. And while many Para riders compete in able-bodied competitions using compensating aids with a dispensation certificate they also take part in

Para

equestrian competitions against riders at the same grade.

British Dressage provides a range of regional training opportunities for those interested in

Para dressage. North West Para representative Pam Rigby explains: “Para

dressage has grown to become a strong section within British Dressage. Riders need to have their own horse, be interested in dressage and may already be competing.

“I co-ordinate the activities including clinics and training sessions in the

North West. We have monthly training sessions and are encouraging judges that have an interest in judging Para classes. I am always happy to answer any queries people have about Para

dressage.”

Back to Rowan, “I was in a hurry to get graded, so that I could do my first

Para

competition. I was going to go and watch at first with my trainer Angela Kennedy but thought what the heck I will have to start somewhere and decided to give it a go. It was a BD Para dressage talent spotting competition and I came seventh with a score of 81.80 per cent.”

Anyone interested in

Para dressage should contact Pam Rigby, Para Representative, on 01565 889054 or email rigbypamela@yahoo.co.uk

New Cross Country Jumps for 2012