Keystone Daybreak Refrain, or “Lottie” as she is understood at house, is the group Paralympic gold medal-winning journey of Natasha Baker, who’s herself one in every of Britain’s maximum embellished equestrian athletes.
“Lottie is like my little Mary Poppins, as she is almost best in each and every approach,” Natasha advised Horse & Hound forward of the Tokyo Video games.
“She has this kind of sort, beneficiant persona – she likes to paintings and is keen. She’s going to pass into any area or environment and she or he desires to accomplish and paintings with me.”
Because the pair prepares to journey down the centre line in Paris, we glance again at their profession in combination up to now.
The beginnings of a partnership
In February 2017, Natasha’s two-time Paralympic and more than one gold medal-winning journey Cabral – who was once higher referred to as “JP” – was once put down after growing a bacterial an infection.
The pair have been at the leading edge of British para-dressage good fortune since successful two Eu gold medals in 2011. Natasha described him as her “horse of an entire life” and wears a hoop comprised of his hair in remembrance.
With the up-and-coming teenager she had on the time, Fireball, proving no longer fairly forward-thinking sufficient for her to take to the highest, Natasha took the remainder of the 12 months out of competing.
Within the build-up to Global Equestrian Video games in 2018 she leased the then nine-year-old Mount St John Diva Dannebrog after an in depth seek.
The pair went directly to win two silver medals, however following the championships Natasha was once as soon as once more left searching for a brand new journey.
In early 2019, she went to take a look at Keystone Daybreak Refrain who was once at the moment starting her festival profession in able-bodied dressage with Beth Bainbridge.
“The primary time I sat on her I were given butterflies,” Natasha mentioned. “She had the most efficient temperament on this planet and the motion to head with it.
“I don’t have using my legs once I journey, however Lottie is a forward-thinking horse and she or he tailored to my driving temporarily.
Natasha Baker and Keystone Daybreak Refrain, pictured all the way through area familiarisation on the Global Para Dressage Championships. Credit score: Peter Nixon
“It was once useful that within the weeks prior to I first went to look her, Beth attempted to make use of her voice up to she may whilst driving her, and her legs as low as imaginable which helped make it a very easy transition for Lottie.”
The pair made their debut in combination in Might 2019, competing to start with in able-bodied dressage at newbie, happening to position 2d on the nationwide championships.
“By no means in one million years did I feel I’d be coming right here,” Natasha advised H&H on the time. “I didn’t have the most efficient regionals – that was once the worst take a look at I’ve ever ridden – as a way to come right here and put that proper was once a excellent feeling.
“There may be a large number of drive on me in para dressage, which is why we to start with went down the able-bodied direction in 2019. It was once a laugh and Lottie loves to enter an extended area and to canter, which we don’t do in grade III.
“I’ve additionally been ready to take her hacking, and I balled my eyes out the primary time we cantered via a box as a result of I’ve by no means had a horse I’ve relied on up to her. I believe as although the rest is imaginable with Lottie as a result of we accept as true with each and every different.”
The pair made their para debut a month later at Keysoe CPEDI3*, claiming a trio of victories and scoring 76.47% for his or her freestyle.
“We went into this display feeling fairly under-prepared – we simplest learnt rein-back ultimate week!” Natasha mentioned.
“I at all times really feel the drive at internationals, but if the drive is on, Lottie rises to it. This offers us a excellent benchmark of the place we’re forward of our Tokyo marketing campaign subsequent 12 months.”
In fact, everybody’s Tokyo plans have been thrown up within the air because of the Covid pandemic. However after all that would possibly have labored out fairly smartly for Natasha, as it intended that by the point Tokyo came visiting, she and Keystone Daybreak Refrain have been seasoned campaigners.
Emerging to the large instance
The pair kicked off the rescheduled Tokyo Video games by means of taking the grade III particular person silver on 76.27%.
“I feel if we have been right here three hundred and sixty five days in the past, I don’t suppose I might have were given 76%,” Natasha mentioned on the time.
“It’s our first festival in combination like this and preventing for the gold medal was once by no means a factor coming right here – it was once simply if I win a medal, then superior. I simply need to give her a in point of fact certain revel in.”
However in spite of the chances being stacked in opposition to them, the mix went on to attain 76.62% within the group take a look at to lend a hand the British group to gold, and their 7th consecutive Paralympic name.
“We have been hoping to come back and possibly problem for Bronze,” mirrored Natasha, who added that Keystone Daybreak Refrain grew in self assurance from their particular person take a look at, with a stutter within the stroll pirouette being the one blip of their glowing efficiency.
Natasha Baker with Keystone Daybreak Refrain on the Tokyo Paralympics. Credit score: Liz Gregg
“It’s an inconceivable motion for any person and not using a use in their legs!” laughed Natasha.
“She simply tries to take over and pass so small, like she’s pronouncing, ‘I’ve were given this, Mum,’ even if I’ve my leg on and my whip tapping her.
“I were given a cracking pirouette within the warm-up, however sadly they didn’t rely. However I may in point of fact push extra – the leg yields have been in point of fact great, she was once in point of fact balanced, up and robust. And there was once extra leisure within the stroll. I will be able to’t ask for extra.”
The pair rounded off their Video games in a poignant style, successful silver within the freestyle, driving to the similar Avatar song Natasha rode the overdue Cabral to in Rio.
“Lottie has simply exceeded each and every unmarried expectation,” mentioned a obviously emotional Natasha following her 3rd medal rite.
“For those who’d mentioned to me that I used to be going to win two particular person silvers and a group gold, I might have advised you that you simply have been mendacity, I simply by no means imagined that any of this may be imaginable.
“I simply couldn’t be extra pleased with the whole thing that she’s completed and the whole thing that she’s performed for me.”
The following bankruptcy
In 2022, the pair gained particular person silver and freestyle bronze on the Global Championships, in spite of Natasha having a disrupted run-up after many weeks of sickness.
The freestyle was once in truth a large milestone for Natasha, for whom Global Championship freestyles have by no means been specifically sort; in 2014 she struggled to get into the world with Cabral, and in 2018 she had a dramatic fall from Mount St John Diva Dannebrog.
“I’m happy I went in nowadays – I had severe flashbacks of 2018 once I were given decked,” Natasha defined. “I used to be so with reference to pronouncing ‘I will be able to’t do that.’ However I’m simply so pleased with her – she taken care of me.”
After the worlds, Natasha took a 20-month ruin from festival following the delivery of her first kid.
All the way through Natasha’s ruin, her trainer Lisa Hopkins took up the reins and positioned 3rd within the fundamental on the 2023 Wintry weather Championships and fourth on the Nationwide Championships.
Natasha made her go back in Might 2024, successful all of the grade III categories at Hickstead CPEDI3*. Extra wins adopted at Wellington and Hartpury internationals and in spite of simplest actively competing in combination once more for 2 months, the pair have been picked for Paris.
“It’s so beautiful having a unique viewpoint now as a result of my son is an important factor in my lifestyles, while driving have been an important factor for goodbye,” mentioned Natasha following her wins at Hartpury.
“I like what I do and it’s so great to come back in and no longer really feel such a lot drive. I’m honoured, thankful and proud to be heading to my fourth Paralympic Video games, it’s been an unbelievable adventure since Tokyo and heading into Paris, now as a mum, makes it much more particular.
“I will be able to’t wait to turn Lottie off to the sector and display that elite athletes can be mums.”
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