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A Weekend of Promise
Having been caught up in a whirlwind of
change over that last 18 months, I now found myself at the Riding for the
Disabled Association National Championships sitting proudly upon Berry,
a 20 year old horse, something I could never have imagined as being on my future
agenda. I have confirmed Multiple Sclerosis, have experienced the transition to
medical retirement, left behind a bad marriage and all by the age of 32. Yet here
I was, waiting for my turn to enter the arena: happy and fulfilled for the first
time in a very long time.
My allotted time was 2:30pm on the Saturday
and having to drive to Gloucester for the event, decided to drive down the night
before. Fatigue was not going to spoil this for me. I had never been a competitor
in any field before but now I was in it, wouldn’t it be lovely to win it! It took
longer than expected to get there, after about one and a half hours tears were rolling
from my eyes as I repeatedly yawned. Driving took a lot out of me these days but
I hadn’t wanted to travel with the horses for the day, I wanted to do some work
for the RDA whilst I was there. At 8:30pm I had reached J13, dropped my bags around
the room and made the bed. There was a plan for the Friday night and that was to
watch a DVD on my laptop in bed with a ready mixed Port and lemonade; a godsend
for anyone which aching limbs.
Saturday lunchtime arrived and I awoke
naturally, feeling refreshed and ready to go. I changed into my specially purchased
competition wear and headed for the arena. Within the hour I met up with other members
of the Perry Group and began to get the horse ready. Now, here I was, riding Berry
in the Horse/Pony & Rider Competition, a real character and a stunning looking
horse. We had a chat whilst we were getting ready, I asked him to help me out and
kissed him. I don’t suppose that he understood what I was saying to him but he looked
at me with those big brown eyes and that was enough. We had walked towards to arena
at an eager and yet relaxed pace. Berry was ready to ‘strut his stuff’ and I was
a more than happy passenger.
The judges beckoned and off we went. The
first three obstacles went well and then there was the gate. The dreaded gate, which
was a gamble any day, would I align correctly or not? In the qualifiers this had
taken two attempts but today we managed it first time. That was the part that worried
me the most and yet the real hurdle was waiting ahead of me.
Berry turned the corner and instead of
trotting the length of the arena, cantered which although a rewarding experience,
was not permitted in the rules and could only go against us. Other Perry group members
watched in suspense, would I fall, could I stop him? I’d only been riding on a regular
basis for the past 7 months and yet here I was, at the Nationals and managing to
keep control. We finished the course and greeted support from our group. It was
excellent fun and we even received a rosette for participating, I love that about
the RDA, nobody goes home without a rosette!
Changing my shirt and tie for a volunteer
polo shirt, I went to my post to begin work. I was helping out in Liz’s Café, where
a team kept the judges and other volunteers supplied with drinks. Now my sociable
side was unleashed and I met an ever increasing group of wonderful people. These
were able bodied and disabled people, working together to improve lives. I didn’t
look until 5 O’clock at the results board, I didn’t really care, I was having such
a good day but then I saw it - D Johnson 2nd 'S'. The 'S' had to mean
that I wasn’t actually second out of everyone in the competition, I couldn’t be,
so I checked with a friend. A friend who was familiar with the horse world and a
friend that pointed out that the 'S' stood for 'senior'. Stupid or disbelieving,
I am not sure but it didn’t really sink in until I had to stand before a large marquee
of people to receive my rosette. Everyone clapped and a camera was clicking in my
face, stunned is an appropriate word and yet exhilarated. At last I had actually
achieved something in the competitive world. So this was what it felt like!
The atmosphere was unique, there were people
with a variety of disabilities everywhere I looked. Nobody stopped to stare, in
fact quite the opposite, wheelchairs, sticks and disease could be easily spotted.
A wonderful mood of acceptance and understanding underlay the entire event and despite
any pain, everybody laughed and shared a little happiness. Later, at the annual
disco, I saw a beautiful little girl dancing to one of the latest chart hits, with
a large group of other children. They all wore smiles as they danced and giggled.
Then I noticed her hair was patchy and discoloured, she was sick! I watched her
having the time of her life on that dance floor, fighting for the right to be alive
in the face of her affliction. My eyes filled up and my heart was engulfed by awe
and admiration. That’s the other wonderful thing about this weekend; no-one arrived
with any pity, admiration was the force at work behind the scenes. The opportunity
for those with a disability to shine was seized by all and Hartpury College was
filled with hundreds of winners!
On the Sunday it rained but the spirit
didn’t dampen. More and more competitors arrived and the crowds continued to cheer.
The good old British Spirit was frequently referred to and cups of tea were flowing.
Dripping volunteers, wet to the skin came into Liz’s café for tea and coffee and
for the first time ever I didn’t witness anybody not giving 100%. Hidden away from
this utopia, back in the real world, more violence and killing continued and I came
home to the news of it all. For a weekend though, for a weekend I was unaware and
face to face with the very best of human nature.
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