I'm Jodie Thorne and I've been back in the saddle since May 2008. I was diagnosed with FacioScapularHumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) when I was 12 years old.
My FSH didn't really affect my childhood too much and I was able to horse ride and be as active as most other children. It's only really since my late teens that I started significantly losing strength. (You can read about my background on the FSHD Global website.)
Horseriding as exercise
During my mid 20's I'd been looking for a form of exercise that I could actually do as well as enjoy (lots of exercise is not possible with my FSH limitations), and I found out about RDA. I used to ride as a child, but didn't have the problems with strength, balance or muscle weakness then that I do now, so it took me a while (and a bit of gentle persuasion from my husband!) to pluck up the courage to call and book an assessment. I'm so glad I did it!
I was really nervous and felt quite unbalanced when Mac (the first horse I rode) started moving, but I had a side walker on each side of me anchoring me across each thigh, and I was holding onto the neck strap (for dear life!) so I knew I wasn't going to fall off. I started to relax a little and enjoy the 5 minite ride around the barn!
When I got off I couldn't believe the impact that short ride had on me – I really felt like I'd done a decent gym workout! The movement of the horse coupled with me having to balance and use muscles that haven't been used for way too long was obviously just the kind of exercise I needed. I started riding regularly in May 2008 and haven't looked back since.
When I started riding again I was being anchored onto the saddle by two sidewalkers, gripping the saddle handle and with a leader in full control of my horse. After two years of working on my balance, posture, stability and trunk strength, I was riding in full control of my horse (at walk) and with a couple of 'spotters' standing outside the arena 'just in case' I lose my balance forwards and tip too far that I need a hand back up into the sitting position. (My trunk strength is incredibly poor once I reach 'the point of no return'.) I wasn't being anchored at all any more. My riding confidence improved ten-fold, so much so that I went to Napier RDA in October 2009 and competed in two grade 1a dressage tests and came 3rd in both!
Horseriding as sport
I was so pleased with my results from the Napier RDA dressage day and got completely hooked on para dressage, so I travelled to the North Island Championships in Auckland in March 2010 to be classified to compete at Para-Equestrian dressage in New Zealand. I had my assessment (which was pretty nerve-wracking!) and I've been classified as Grade 1a which is a walk only test.
As part of my classification, I'm allowed to ride with certain compensatory aids. My compensatory aids consist of:
- Looped reins: These help me to keep a grip on the reins. I have 4 flexible loops sewn onto my reins that allow me to ride with a soft contact, and then 'step my fingers' up the reins to the longest loop which I can use to ride a long rein/free walk. I was finding it really hard to keep my rein contact (my reins kept slipping and if Tech shifted his head any way, I lost the reins forward). I also found it really hard to gather up the reins from free walk before I tried the loops. (Huge thanks to Fiona Green for making these for me!)
- Solid handlebar: I use a Longden Grip solid handlebar on the front of my saddle, and ride with my thumbs hooked into the bar (and fingers through my loop reins) at all times. This helps me with my balance, as well as giving me a 'pivot point' to give my left/right rein aids. My arms are too weak to take and kind of pull or pressure from Tech's mouth, however small it is. (It pulls my whole arms and then my whole upper body forward). So riding with my handlebar gives me support in my upper body as well as my arms/rein aids.
- Thigh straps: I have an elastic strap that goes around each saddle flap and attaches over my thigh with velcro. These straps help to keep my leg still, gives me some support and also helps to prevent my legs sliding back when I do tip forward, so I have more chance of staying in the saddle in the time it takes for my 'spotters' to run in and push me back up!
- Two whips: I'm allowed to ride with two whips to back up my weak legs, but I'm only riding with one at the moment because my left hand is too weak to be able to hook into the handlebar, hold the reins and hold (and control!) a whip too. Luckily Tech balances me well because his good side (left) is my bad side (left) so hopefully I can continue to ride without needing a whip on that side for a while longer yet.
- Salute with head only: I'm allowed to salute at the start and end of my tests with my head only, instead of taking one hand off the reins and down to my side like a standard dressage salute.
So that's the classification and equipment sorted, now for the most important factor... the horse!
Finding that 'one in a million' horse
I was incredibly lucky to be awarded a grant from the Max Foundation for New Zealand Women in July 2010 which meant I could go horse shopping to find my perfect horsey partner! I am so grateful to the Max Foundation for giving me this opportunity, and believing in me and my ultimate goals.
After scouring the North Island with Mum for nearly 8 months (who is also a rider and was my 'test pilot'!), and after two unsuccessful trials with two different horses, I came across Tech, a 16hh 9 year old Clydie x gelding. He was advertised on Trade me a few weeks after my second (unsuccessful) horse trial finished. I was becoming quite despondant with my horse hunt so far, but I felt a flicker of excitement when I came across Tech's ad. He sounded like he could be perfect on the phone; a great cruisey temperment, perfect size and would be happy for a 'slow pace of life' (ie, my walk tests!). But he didn't have any dressage experience so I didn't want to get my hopes up just yet. I was lucky that Tech was in Maramarua and his owners were happy to take him to Showfields Equestrian Centre for Jayne and Jenn to try for me. Both Jayne and Jenn have been incredible support to me (Thanks so much guys!) and really knew what I needed in terms of horse size, shape, movement, temperment and everything else that goes with being a para horse. On the day of the trial I spent the whole day checking my phone and willing it to ring with Jayne's number to tell me she had found the perfect horse for me... I couldn't concentrate on much else!
I finally spoke to Jayne that evening and she was keen for me to go and try him myself, so I did! Mum and I went up to meet him for a day and both of us rode, and we felt so positive that we took him on trial for the following weekend at Showfields. Over that weekend we put him through his paces and we both rode him a couple of times both days, one of which was a dressage competition day so it was great to see him and try him in that environment. Despite the fact that Tech had no dressage experience, his size and paces were perfect for what I needed, and we all felt he had the kind of temperment and willingness to learn, that he could be trained to be exactly what I was looking for. Mum and I both came away with big smiles on our faces, and arranged for him to come home to Tauranga for one week's trial so we could put him through a few more tests before we made our decision.
Tech didn't put a foot wrong and one week later we were celebrating! San Mateo Tech Effects was my new para-partner!
And so our partnership begins...
Six weeks after buying Tech we had our first big test - Horse of the Year! Yes, I might just be a little bit crazy to jump straight in the deep end (especially with a horse who had never set foot in a dressage arena before I bought him!), but Tech and I were getting on so well together, and I really wanted to support the first time para-equestrian had been included at HOY. So off we went!
We rode the Grade 1a Championship test and the Freestyle test and it was an amazing experience. Just being there was unreal, let alone competing! Tech took it all in his stride and I was so pleased with how he handled everything (including my HUGE nerves!). We ended up scoring 59% and 60% respectively and really enjoyed our first time out together at such a huge event. He really looked after me and we're growing together every day. We really are a true partnership and I feel so lucky to have found him. We've been training hard and are working on improving our scores each time we compete. I really take on board the judges feedback and aim to keep improving ourselves all the time.
I'm also really lucky to have the most amazing sponsors and support team around me who make it possible for me to ride. My awesome 'crew' (all volunteers) help me to feed, groom, rug, tack up, mount/dismount, warm Tech up before my rides and keep him exercised/schooled in all paces. They are "my arms and legs" and take care of everything involved in caring for and riding a horse that I can't do due to my physical limitations. I hope Tech and I can make you proud when we compete and bring home ribbons for you. One day we hope it will be a medal from the Paralympics...
Find out more about my journey and latest competitions in my Latest News section >