Discover the Power of - Resilience
A Lifelong Passion for Horses
My mother’s deep passion for horses shaped my early years, and it wasn’t long before I discovered I shared the same love. By the age of six, I had my own pony and was competing in local showjumping events. But my enthusiasm extended far beyond riding—I cherished every aspect of stable life, from grooming and mucking out to learning about horse care and management.
Between the ages of five and fifteen, horses were the center of my world. I owned several horses over the years, rode many more, and competed in show jumping, cross-country, pony club games, and polo. Yet, it was working with young horses that truly captured my heart. Growing up at a riding school and livery yard that bred its own horses, I was trusted with early training responsibilities, including breaking in young horses. At just thirteen, I was gifted a rising three-year-old named Savanah to break myself—an experience that taught me invaluable lessons in patience, trust, and the unique bond between horse and rider.
A Life-Altering Challenge
For much of my early life, my world revolved solely around horses and the stables. It wasn’t until I was thirteen that I began developing friendships outside the equestrian world, navigating the challenges of adolescence and seeking independence.
At fifteen, a decision to get into a car with friends led to a tragic and life-changing road traffic collision. I sustained multiple severe injuries, including a broken femur, pelvis, and ribs; a punctured lung; a complete spinal injury at the T6/T7 level; and a brachial plexus injury to my right arm. After a critical month in intensive care, numerous surgeries, and seven months in hospital, I returned home as a full-time wheelchair user, with use of only my left arm.
Struggling to Find a New Path
Still a teenager, I was now confined to a home that was not wheelchair accessible and forced to live in a dining room for three years with virtually no independence. The devastation of knowing I might never ride again or live the life I had envisioned was overwhelming. I felt lost, isolated, and deeply unhappy—unable to see a future beyond mere survival.
In my despair, I turned to alcohol and bitterness, struggling to come to terms with the loss of everything I once held dear.
A true life story - life is what you make it!
Rebuilding My Life
It took years to rebuild my life and change my mindset. For a long time, I shut horses out completely—seven years passed before I was ready to let them back in. One day, I made the decision to fight back, to stop using my disability as an excuse, and to start living again. I still had the knowledge, experience, and passion for horses—just not the same body. I was determined to adapt and reclaim the life I once knew.
My first step was buying a driving pony and raising money for a carriage so I could teach myself to drive one-handed. I had to go right back to basics, learning new ways to do things that once came naturally. Deep down, I always knew I wanted to compete again. I also dreamed of breeding a horse and raising it around my wheelchair—something many said would be impossible. But I had to try.
Against advice, I bought a Friesian mare imported from Holland from a friend and put her in foal to their stallion. A year later, Majestic was born—and that’s when my story truly began again. My goal was to eventually drive and compete with him in carriage driving trials. Many believed it was too dangerous or unrealistic, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could. To share our journey—the ups, downs, adaptations, setbacks, and successes—I started a Facebook page documenting every step.
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Majestic and Me - New beginnings
Ten years later, I live on a stable yard with 6 horses. Majestic and I now compete in carriage driving trials and have joined the Para Driving Squad, working toward representing Team GB at the World Championships in 2027.
Today, I own six horses—three of which I drive and compete, and a youngster I’m beginning to train. My journey has been far from easy, but it’s proof that with determination, courage, and the right mindset, anything is possible.
