I have not posted about this before. But about a month ago I decided to get a classification as a Para Equestrian. Why? Well I know that at the end stage of Parkinson’s most people are in wheelchairs. I saw this and it worried me because I wondered how I would be able to ride a horse if that happens to me. Riding is what keeps me sane. I have also learned that 60 % of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s suffer from depression when they get this diagnosis. I have not and I believe and it is because I have been able to ride my horse . I sent off copies of three of the interviews I have done with Canadian riders who have declared for the Paris Olympics to someone I know at the canadian equestrian ngo: : Equestrian Canada. She replied and thanked me for the interviews and asked if I was going to the Dressage Festival in Ottawa that was coming up. I replied that I was not and told her about my diagnosis with Parkinson’s. She replied and asked me it I had considered getting classified as a para rider .She said they have lots of opportunities to ride and to compete. I saw this as a good idea and sent in an application, It turned out that they were having an assessment at the Ottawa Show. So I went to that. The assessment process was not what I had expected. Most the things I had to do involved co- ordination. and not balance or range of motion. My coach Lynsey Rowan came with me and she described to them my difficulty in getting on and off my horse an how she had to help me to dismount, . The people doing the assessment were very pleasant and it lasted about and hour. Then the next day we drove home. Ottawa is about 4.5 hours from where we live. My husband is a tireless driver . He now drives me to the barn for my lessons three days a week and also in between to see Biasini for a visit. I am so grateful for this. I waited for almost three weeks to get a response when I got it it was not the best news. I was not sufficiently disabled to be given a para grading . I was very disappointed. but then I reconsidered. This means that since my diagnosis last October I haven’t got a lot worse. So that is good news. Right? Well despite my disappointment I have to accept that this is true. This is a time when bad news is actually good news.
Lynsey Rowan giving me a lesson on Biasini while we were in Florida last winter.
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