Last Summer Winnie gave us the feeling that she was ready to come back into the world of Para Dressage. She had been away for over 4 years recovering from a career ending injury, but I had been riding her for short sessions as my therapy horse for about 6 months. In that time she was just getting better and better and so when Lexi needed to take a break leaving me without a competition horse to campaign Winnie just stepped up.

We started at a few local shows and very quickly had qualified for the Gold Semi-finals Premier League, so off we went for a 2 day stay away show. She was incredible and it was like she had never been away. She was a little over zealoused in the test and decided to wing a few of the moves and flew down the final centreline like a sports car, leaving us a few marks away from the top spot, but I could not have cared a jot – she was back and she was loving it. I came out of the arena laughing because she just had such a lovely time. And that’s what this sport should be about – Happy horses showing their relationships with us.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am one of the most competitive equestrians you will meet but this was so much more than a Premier League competition it was me and Winnie back together and of course there were tears from everyone. Winnie saved me when she came into my life 8 years ago and made my dreams of riding a Dressage Horse again a reality after my accident and subsequent MS diagnosis and I can never thank her enough for that. She means the absolute word to me.

Our goal now is to go to an International this Summer but I have one small snag, in that I am now the one with the injury. You can see it in the photograph above, my left leg shouldn’t roll over like that! I’ve not ridden for a year in fact this was my last ride with Winnie but we are on consultant number 5 and she has a new plan, so please keep everything crossed for us. Winnie however goes from strength to strength so she is more than ready.

Next month I will reintroduce you to Lexi my other heart horse and let you know what lead to her having a bit of time away from the competition scene.