Thompson’s tale serves as an inspiration for disabled riders

The joint venture, between Endurance GB and Riding for the Disabled, has the long-term aim of holding a Para endurance World Championship.

Disabled riders are being offered the chance to ride at one of two national Endurance GB events; at Puddingstone in Suffolk on September 23 or at New Forest Rufus on October 14.

The official launch will be at the Puddingstone ride where there will be 10-, 20- and 40-mile classes as well as an invitation class for Para riders from other disciplines.

Entry to these two rides will be free and accompanying riders, if needed, can enter at half the fee.

The RDA will be helping to encourage its riders to take up this new discipline and will organise rides of between one and 10km and then competitors will move up to EGB rides.

It is a friendly sport and some disabled riders already compete.

It was a love of endurance riding that got Tracy Thompson back into the saddle following a spinal injury.

Thompson, who lives near Thirsk, has competed in endurance for 20 years and in 1998 she was short listed for the World Championships in Dubai.

Then just a few days after the team was announced, she was involved in an accident on the family farm and a spinal injury left her paralysed from the waist down.

“I had a very good surgeon and I started to get some feeling back in my legs,” said Thompson.

“I spent a lot of time at the Spinal Injury Unit at Pinderfields doing phsyio and rehabilitation.

“I went home five weeks after my accident and my husband borrowed a quiet pony, hoiked me out of my wheelchair and led me round on the pony for half an hour. That was a real high point.”

Her next aim was to take part in a ride and her first proper outing was in 2000 when she took part in the Golden Oldies class at the Three Horseshoe Ride.

Since then Thompson has continued to compete and is chair of the North and East Yorkshire Group of Endurance GB.

“The camaraderie in endurance riding comes from spending several hours riding with fellow competitors during an event, whereas in dressage or showjumping you rarely ride together,” she added.

“Endurance is also a sport in which you can take part on a horse of any shape or size, which means that disabled riders can compete on the most suitable horse for them.

“Para Endurance is a wonderful idea and I hope that many more disabled riders will be encouraged to enjoy the challenge of this unique sport.”

For more information go to www.endurancegb.co.uk and to enter the Puddingstone or New Forest rides, email 
[email protected]