Max is one in a million!
Para-equestrian dressage rider Alex McNamara from Fulstow, Lincolnshire is hoping his new horse Max proves to be one in a million.
Alex (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.
Max, show name Rubinall, is a chestnut 10-year old gelding by Rubenstein, who was chosen to help strengthen Alex’s chances of success in the future.
Alex has left side hemiplegia which affects his control of the horse and his balance when riding. However, despite this Alex still regularly competes successfully in able-bodied dressage classes.
“I’m so grateful to my mum, who bought Max for me,” said Alex. “We’re already forming a good partnership and he’s quickly adapting to my way of riding. It’s exciting to have another good prospect in the yard and it fills me with real optimism for the future and competing on the world stage.”
Alex and Max are already proving to be a winning partnership having picked up wins and placings at able bodied dressage competitions – at both Novice and Elementary competitions and have thus qualified for the Winter Regionals. They are now looking forward to the start of the para-equestrian dressage competition season.
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, through Exchequer and National Lottery funds, via UK Sport since 1998.
Picture below shows Alex with his new horse Max (Rubinall)
