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

The landlord of a Flat racehorse became nationwide dressage champion hopes her tale will inspire different para riders to believe former racehorses.

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

Elizabeth advised H&H that “Boycie”, who used to be skilled through Jamie Osbourne to 4 wins and 9 puts at the racetrack, is a “shining instance of the flexibility of ex-racehorses”.

Boycie, now 9, has been out of racing about 3 and a part years, and Elizabeth has owned him for roughly 3.

“He’s a super horse, he’ll do the rest,” she stated. “My pal’s daughter does hunt races with him, and I believed ‘He’s one of these candy horse, let’s have a pass at dressage’, and he’s taken to it like a duck to water.”

Elizabeth used to be recognized with a couple of sclerosis (MS) 10 years in the past.

“It’s left me with a limp on my proper leg,” she stated. “I without a doubt 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 so much weaker, and now not as efficient once I experience, so that is affecting my steadiness. However he’s tailored in reality smartly to being ridden through me, and through able-bodied riders.”

Elizabeth credit her instructor Anne Marie Bork Eppers for all her lend a hand, and the crew at Talland, who’re “completely implausible for para riders”.

“The MS does suck, however I check out to not let it cling me again,” she stated. “BD has one of the crucial absolute best pathways for other folks with disabilities to be concerned with game; they’re so supportive and feature such a lot of coaching and pageant alternatives, they’re superb.”

Elizabeth needed to be labeled to start with to compete in BD para categories, then she and Boycie went to their first display, at Northallerton, in April.

“We did two checks and gained each, then went again the following month, did any other two and gained the ones,” she stated. “We had prime sufficient percentages, and issues, that I then were given an electronic mail from BD to mention we’d certified for the championships at Hartpury.

“I believed we may as smartly pass, as it will be a privilege to experience there, and my major intention used to be simply to get a pleasant image!”

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

“I’d by no means been in a complicated prizegiving, with a sash, and it used to be nice to be in a line-up with all of the different champions,” she stated. “It used to be great to fulfill different individuals who had determined they wouldn’t be outlined through their disabilities however would revel in their horses in the easiest way they in all probability can. Horses provide you with freedom; I will’t run any further and I pass over it however I experience an ex-racehorse who floats above the bottom. Having that freedom is fantastic and it must be promoted extra.”

Elizabeth stated she used to be most certainly the one rider on the championships with a former racehorse.

“However I feel they make sensible para horses, as a result of they’ve noticed the entirety,” she stated. “They’re now not spooky, or nervous through pots of plants or white forums, as they’re so much much less thrilling than an afternoon at Ascot. I feel extra para riders must believe them; Retraining of Racehorses is excellent at matching other folks with horses and BD at serving to you in finding the fitting degree to compete at so I feel extra ex-racehorses must be doing para dressage.

“Such a lot of other folks once they’re requesting horses say ‘No TBs’; there’s a stereotype I’m seeking to destroy with me and my horse. Simply since you technically have a incapacity and experience an ex-racehorse doesn’t imply other folks must forget you. We’re a super aggregate and with a bit of luck in long run we’ll see extra ex-racehorses in para dressage.”

Elizabeth described Boycie as a “whole gentleman”, who somebody may just experience.

“Once I’m on him is the one time I don’t really feel self-conscious about my leg or my incapacity; once I experience him, that’s long past and that’s superb,” she stated. “He treats me like an equivalent, and he makes me really feel as although I will fly.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over 8 years running for native and nationwide newspapers ahead of becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Keen about equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all sides of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage regulations to mules. Her game of selection is showjumping, through which she competes her personal horses, and she or he additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping displays thru to world championships.