H&C

Natasha and Woody in action

Natasha was brought up on her family’s farm and has been surrounded by horses since she was tiny; her mother rode competitively and Natasha has followed in her footsteps.

She began riding at her local Riding for the Disabled Association, and by the age of 12, she was selected onto the World Class Start Squad for paralympic dressage. Shortly after, she got her first horse, and now rides at National and International level, having represented Great Britain at home and in Belgium, Germany, Norway and France.

Natasha boasts many international para dressage appearances, most notably winning the individual title at Hartpury International in 2005, the Normandy International in France in 2006 and the Winter National Championships in 2007, where she also won the Music championship.

In 2007 Natasha won the Individual Grade II at the National Championships and in doing so, gained the title of National Champion. At the Winter National Championships 2008/2009 she won the Grade II Individual and was the Overall Freestyle Champion, shortly followed by taking the Grade II Individual title at the Spring National Championships 2009.

Natasha has been reselected onto the World Class Squad each year and has now progressed onto the Development Level; providing the opportunity to compete at the highest level. She is grateful to have the support of Team Visa and the mentoring programme this includes. Her mentors include Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson and Sir Steve Redgrave.

She currently has two competition horses: Lazardo a 16.3hh bay gelding and Wald Minor, a 17hh chestnut gelding.

Paralympic dressage is divided into four categories depending on the level of disability, Grade One being the most disabled through to Grade Four as the least. Natasha competes at Grade Two.

When Natasha was 14 months old she contracted Transverse Myelitis (inflammation of a section across the spine). The nerve damage is permanent and has left her with severe weakness and increased tone in her legs, significantly affecting her balance. Though she can walk short distances with the aid of a stick, when she rides Natasha does not have the ability to use her legs to push the horse forward, so Natasha’s horses are trained to respond to her voice and seat.

After watching Paralympic and Olympic Games on TV in 2000, Natasha announced to her parents that she had decided on her career, and has been focused on this dream ever since. In November of 2008 she won her first international class in France, and when she heard the national anthem playing, her aim of a gold medal in the Paralympic Games was crystallised.