Meet Para Dressage Rider Mari Durward-Akhurst | In partnership with Sports Aid

Описание: "When I'm with the horses, they're my best friends. And I'm really good at riding, so it's something I can excel at and I love it!" We hear from European Silver Medalist, Mari Durward-Akhurst about her inspiring story of how she got into para dressage horse riding, and how she continues on her path towards achieving her goals.

Find out more at: https://www.spatone.com/en/blog

When I'm with the horses, they're my best friends. And I'm really good at riding, so it's something I can excel at and I love it!
Hi, my name is Mari Durward-Ackhurst and I'm a Para Dressage Athlete.
For me, horses don't judge you. I got bullied a lot when I was at school because I was different to other children and much slower than them, but I could go home and sit on a horse. It's almost like my paradise.
So I started, loved it and when I was about 11 I got talent spotted and it's all spiralled on from there.
On a horse, I train about five times a week.
In terms of my condition, it's deteriorated quite a lot but the one thing I've learnt to keep strong is my core. As long as I can keep that strong, I can stay in the sadle.
The hardest thing for me would be the fatigue and how tired I get trying to do everything. I want to be the top of my game but sometimes I need to not do as much leading up to a competition.
I have to be really careful with my energy levels, and make sure that when I go down that centre line I am at my peak, ready to perform.
It's really important to celebrate what you have done and to stop and look back at what you have achieved.
I'd love to be a triple Para Olympic, World and European Gold Medallist.