It would be a remarkable accomplishment to be part of the Australian Paralympic Team again, this time at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. The equestrian venue, overlooking the Palace of Versailles, is nothing short of spectacular. Wow! What a picture it would look riding my Lusitano stallion Celere down the centreline with his golden coat shining with the palace as a backdrop. Stunning!

To be in contention for a spot on the Australian team for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, I need to secure one more qualifying score. At my first qualifier event, I won the champion title for my grade and gained a qualifying score at the Willinga Park Paralympic Qualifier. The following two Australian qualifiers will be held at Boneo Park Equestrian Centre, Victoria, and SIEC, Sydney, in April and June 2024.

Participating in these qualifiers and the cost of hiring help due to my disability is a substantial amount, totalling over $10,000. The expenses include entries, stabling, accommodation, fuel, flights, and wages for my groom/carer.

Since I began competing as a para-athlete 12 years ago, my husband Michael and I have self-funded all my campaigns and events, but this time around, we need a little help. Any contribution to this page is tax-deductible and will only be used towards the two qualifier events mentioned above.

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The Passion Is Real

As an accomplished Australian Paralympian dressage rider, I have always strived to excel in my field and mentor aspiring athletes.

Throughout my career, I have won numerous titles at the state, national, and international levels. Thanks to my remarkable Lusitano stallion, Celere, I proudly secured 9th place at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. In the 2021 FEI Para Grade II World Rankings, I was ranked 7th.

My dedication and commitment to the sport were further recognised when I was awarded the prestigious ‘Australian Sports Medal’ in September 2023 on the Australian honours list. This award is a testament to my contribution to the success of the Australian Paralympic Team and the sport in general.

My passion for competing began at a young age when I won my first rider class at age 2. But my true love is training my horses with kindness, respect, and correct riding techniques. Through dedication and hard work, I have developed strong bonds with my horses, which have been admired worldwide. With over 30 years of experience, I have a wealth of knowledge about the Lusitano and PRE breeds and am highly passionate about growing their reputation.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

30 years ago, at age 9, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and, as an adult, Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues. It affects the joints, causing painful swelling that eventually results in bone erosion and joint deformity; it can also damage skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.

By age 12, there was so much damage to my body that I required bilateral hip replacements. Due to my age, I was forced to wait until my early 20s.

Over the years, I’ve had numerous joint replacements and fusions, with many more needed; even now, at age 39, I am considered young and told to wait even though a recent bone scan showed all my joints have severe joint damage some with bone on bone, spurs and tiny fractures.

In 2018, my foot surgeon said my right foot and ankle were so destroyed that amputation may need to be considered in the future. Numerous tendons are damaged with complete tears, and my lungs are damaged from an episode of bronchitis in 2011 that I fought for a long time as my immune system is compromised. A simple cold can be so dangerous.

Powerful medications play a huge part in controlling this disease, which comes at a price. Still, it comes down to the quality of life, and I know that without the steroids, chemotherapy, anti-inflammatories and biologicals, I would not be able to live.

Basilar Invagination

In 2016 I was diagnosed with the rare neurological condition Basilar Invagination.

Basilar invagination is when the top of the spine pushes into the base of the skull. This causes pinching and pressing on the brain stem and nerves that connect the brain to the spinal cord. There is less than a 0.033mm space in my skull before the bone hits my brain and lays on my brainstem.

It was a challenging time when I was diagnosed with BI. For 3 years prior, I had been training with Celere in England and Portugal leading up to the 2016 Rio Paralympic European qualifiers. I withdrew, brought Celere home and began my biggest fight.

At the time, I saw 5 neurosurgeons for answers. I was hoping for a miracle or someone to say they were wrong. 2 Neurosurgeons believed that with or without surgery, there was a high percentage of death at any given time. If I proceeded with the high-risk surgery to remove the spine from my skull, there was a higher risk of quadriplegia from the neck down or death.

I do believe that living with Rheumatoid and being around medical professionals from a young age prepared me for this time; as scared as I was and the choices I was facing, I never quit until I clearly understood my options, the condition and found a confident neurosurgeon, and I ‘clicked’ with, as I have done so with all my previous surgeons who have performed my surgeries.

After lengthy investigations and finding the right neurosurgeon, it was suggested that the C1 and C2 vertebrates of my neck had naturally fused, which to this day keeps me alive. This stops the spine from moving any further into my skull.

I do, however, have chronic symptoms daily, and each day is different.