Natasha’s prayers answered thanks to John Paul!
Para-equestrian dressage rider Natasha Baker from Uxbridge thinks her prayers have been answered with the arrival of her new horse JP.
Natasha (19), a successful para-equestrian dressage rider, is on the British Equestrian Federation’s UK Sport funded World Class Development Programme - which works with talented riders to maximize their potential and deliver success.
Her new horse, competition name Cabral, was chosen for his star quality, to help strengthen Natasha’s chances of success in the future. The bay seven-year-old Polish bred gelding had previously evented up to Novice level with Christian Landolt, but when he proved not bold enough cross country, looked to start a new career as a dressage horse. He will join Natasha’s other two rides, Wald Minor (owned by Jean Scharf) and Lazardo (owned by Natasha).
Natasha suffers from transverse myelitis, a rare condition affecting nerves in her lower spine. She doesn’t have sufficient power in her legs, so relies on her voice to control her horses.
“The family all clubbed together to help me buy JP – so I’m really grateful to them,” said Natasha. “He’s settling in well and getting used to listening to my voice, which is obviously a critical part of his training – he’s already a star in my eyes but hopefully he’ll be one on the world stage one day!”
Natasha and JP are already proving to be a winning partnership having picked up wins and placings at able bodied dressage competitions – for both Preliminary and Novice tests. They will start para-equestrian dressage competitions early in the new year.
The World Class Programme incorporates the three Olympic sports of dressage, eventing, show jumping and the Paralympic sport of para-equestrian dressage. It comprises the Performance and Development programmes plus the Equine Pathway.
The aim of the Programme is to have in place a sustainable system that can deliver more medals on the international stage now and in the future. The Programme has been funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, primarily from the National Lottery, via UK Sport since 1998.