Help a disabled equestrian vaulter to represent GB

8 years ago, I was a full-time wheelchair user who was asked if she wanted to have a go at vaulting - the sport of gymnastics on horseback. I have quite a complex medical history - a genetic disorder affecting almost every cell in my body, on top of a number of serious injuries (including breaking my back) and a hearing impairment - so I didn't really see how it would work, but I like a challenge, and said yes straight away!

Within a year I had won three national titles in para vaulting and was able to do more on the horse than I had ever dreamed possible. I started a gymnastics class and continued to train and compete in vaulting. Over the following few years, I worked incredibly hard and eventually learned to walk - and even run a little bit, although people around me are still used to me tumbling down or crashing into things!

I trained to coach both disabled and non-disabled vaulters and took on a voluntary role leading vaulting nationally for the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). I started a new job working with horses at a country house, giving twice-daily displays to the public of all sorts of equestrian activities, including vaulting.

I took a keen interest in promoting para vaulting, writing articles and doing interviews for a variety of online and print publications, as well as promoting the sport on social media and making contacts around the world. I hoped that, one day, we would be able to start international competitions for para vaulters, just as there are competitions for us nationally and, in some other equestrian disciplines (e.g. dressage, show jumping and reining), internationally.

To date, I have won 21 national titles (English, British and RDA UK Champion) in para vaulting - twice in a pas de deux, once in a team, and 18 times as an individual.

Best of all, I was privileged to have my own vaulting horse, Puro - a horse I'd worked with as a coach for four years before I ever got to ride him! I trusted him with my life - literally - and together we worked up to 1* standard - the first level of international (non-disabled) vaulting.

My biggest dream had always been to represent Great Britain and now, with the training I'd done with Puro, it seemed to be becoming a possibility. That I might be able to do so in a mainstream competition was tremendously exciting, and I wasn't concerned that, against non-disabled competitors, I would almost certainly come last - I just wanted the experience of doing it.

However, in August 2023, I was devastated when Puro injured his leg in the field. It was very serious, and I knew that we would never ride or vault together again, but I loved him to bits and didn't care about that - I just hoped he could retire, pain-free, and munch grass for the rest of his days.

For eight weeks we gave him the best possible care and strict box rest, but his injury worsened dramatically despite this. He was 26 and a big horse, and we knew his leg would never heal, and that his pain would only increase. Heart-breakingly, we had to have him put to sleep.

Vaulting without Puro felt impossible, emotionally. When I did get back into it, in January 2024, it felt impossible physically too. I could barely do any of the skills that had seemed so easy the previous summer, partly because of various illnesses and injuries I'd had since then but also because, with having no feeling in my legs and impaired sensation in my arms, it is incredibly difficult for me to adapt to different tack or a different horse.

The idea of competing internationally now was just a pipedream, and I didn't know how I could love the sport in the same way as I did before. I felt as if everything had regressed and that my only opportunity to be good enough had been and gone.

There was a stubborn part of me that thought that, even if I couldn't compete in canter anymore, I should stick with it and work in the walk - maybe I'd be able to work back up to canter with a new horse. It was a small, despondent part of me, but it was just strong enough to keep a flicker of interest going in my heart even though, in my head, I had just about given up.

There is a famous quotation of Henry Ross Perot, which is something of a cliché - but boy, is it right for this situation! He said, "Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown."

I'm so glad I didn't quit. I was just about ready to, but then I got some incredible news:

I would be travelling abroad to compete in the first international para vaulting competition, hosted by none other than CVI Saumur - one of the biggest and most renowned events in the international vaulting calendar, based in the historic equestrian capital of France.

I really hope that this is the first of many international para vaulting events. I hope that other CVI (international vaulting competition) organisers will put on para classes and that many other disabled people will be inspired to try the sport and to train at the highest possible level.

I hope that this is just the beginning for a sport which - after eight years of very hard work - has taught me to walk again, enabled me to start a new career, given me some fantastic experiences and memories, taught me about confidence and courage, and simply made me very happy. I hope that, in recognising para vaulters internationally, there will be greater awareness of the huge benefits the sport can give, and that many more disabled people will not only be inspired to try it but also given the opportunity to do so - an opportunity I had thanks to open-minded coaches, for which I give thanks every day.

Vaulting is a relatively affordable equestrian sport - but all things are relative, and horses aren't cheap! The benefits are that we don't need a lot of expensive, specialist clothing (e.g. hats, boots, jackets), and we don't need to own our own horse (I will be competing on a horse kindly loaned by a club from Scotland). However, travelling abroad to represent GB is still going to be expensive - I need to cover:

I would be incredibly grateful for any support people can offer towards getting us safely to and from Saumur. This is an opportunity for me to realise one of my dreams, but that dream is not just about me: it's about ALL para vaulters (past, present and future). It's about opening up people's minds and hoping that a widening of attitudes and perspective might lead to an increase in opportunities.

Any additional money which is raised will be donated to the Riding for the Disabled Association.

I've seen so many disabled people do so many incredible things on a horse, and I can't wait to see the para side of this brilliant sport grow stronger than ever. I hope that all of us competing in the para class in Saumur can fly the flag for disability sport - and I would be so grateful for your support in doing this.

For more information on my story, please visit The Para Vaulter.