Equestrians Conquering Tokyo Olympics

I have been so inspired watching the olympics. My horse is not so thankful because now I believe I can ride so much better than I can. Poor pippi she is telling me I probably need some more coaching first.

But my inspiration comes from the stories behind the teams of the athletes.

Our current Olympic Equestrian team are providing so much inspiration.  The equestrians are really conquering Tokyo Olympics and are providing so many firsts and triumphs. These riders and horses are showing us what is possible with the right intentions.

Age is not a Barrier

When you set goals, age is no barrier.  I am so inspired by Andrew Hoy. Imagine reaching your goal at 62.  Andrew Hoy is the oldest person to win a gold medal.  I have watched him ride in my youth at the Olympics thinking I want to do that. He has competed in eight Olympic games, which is also an Australian Record. 

“Our two children, Philippa and Oscar, they’re at home and the nanny’s looking after them. Philippa sent a message this morning. She turns four tomorrow and she sent a message saying, ‘Daddy well done, you rode really good yesterday and I want you to bring home another medal’. I can’t say I did it for Philippa because the passion comes from here (heart) with me.”

Woman and Men Are Equal.

Germany’s Julia Krajewski has entered the equestrian record books as the very first female athlete to win the Individual Olympic eventing gold medal.  Its a sport were woman and men compete against each other equally! I cant think of another sport were we are not divided into gender.

The 32-year-old rider who is based in Warendorf, Germany has had a really tough year, beginning with the passing of her father and then having to retire her top horse Samurai du Thot after he had his eye removed because of a lingering infection.  So she competed on a mare she calls Mandy.

“I really benefited form the trust I have in my horse. I tried to imagine I was at home under lights and I said, Mande, we are really going to rock it now. I was just so proud of my horse.

Being first female to win gold. I really didn’t know no female had never won gold because of all the great ladies in our sport. It’s about time and maybe quite fitting for the time we are in. Everything is possible. Everyone who has a dream or a passion should go for it. Nothing can hold you back if you have dream.“

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

A one eyed horse, Viscera, swiss ridden by an amazing riding Therese Viklund from (Sweden) competed at the Olympics eventing.  I wouldn’t have thought possible this is an extraordinary feat.  The course at Tokyo, was very challenging for top teams so to have a physical disability is simply incredible.  Loosing an eye creates an issue with depth perception for horses. The trust in this team is something remarkable. Team work can overcome obstacles where physical limitations make it impossible as an individual.

It certainly hasn’t deterred Viscera, who “is so tough and believes so much in herself, I think, that she just can do anything,” Therese describes.

Therese says she was quite nervous for her first competitions back after the surgery, describing a big drop at Boekelo that some had warned her might be tough for a one-eyed horse’s depth perception. “But she just popped down like nothing and there haven’t been any problems at all,” Therese says. “She’s mentally always been really secure in herself and it must have been helping her.”

Trust

Olympic hero Laura Collett’s, British gold medal comes eight years after an accident that nearly killed her and permanently blinded her in one eye.  I cant imagine what it would be like to jump those massive jumps with impaired vision. The trust you would need to have in your horse.

‘I have blurred vision in a quarter of the eye and the rest is blacked out.

‘With no recollection of my accident at all.

“Just to be here was more than a dream come true, and to be stood here, with a gold medal, I look back where I was eight years ago – I knew I was lucky to be alive, yet alone do the job I love.”

Everyone else was more worried about me getting on a horse for the first time than I was, but it was part of me getting better as it gave me something to look forward to.

“It’s a dream come true just to Be here. I feel like someone is going to pinch me and I’m going to wake up from the dream. To be able to be selected this year has been a fight, it’s been tough.

Imagine taking life lessons from our equestrian riders.  But hard work, respect for any age, team work, and disability is no barrier.  It is all so inclusive and I love it.