Olympic event rider, Jonty Evans, has announced his Para-Dressage debut after re-evaluating his career following his fall in 2018.
Admitting the process to change from an event rider to para-dressage was a mental challenge, the rider is looking forward making his debut at Solihull, March 30.
“I can’t pretend that the mental process involved in coming to terms with this decision has been smooth, it hasn’t”.
A social media statement read.
Riding his Olympic horse, Cooley Rorkes Drift, stable name Art, Evans is hopeful he’ll do the 16.1hh bay gelding proud during the two grade 4 classes they will be competing in.
“All I have ever wanted to do at any competition, be it a BE100 or the Rio Olympic Games is do my horse justice.“
“The challenge ahead of me now remains to try and do my horse justice. A fantastic phrase that I forget where I heard it is…. IF LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS MAKE LEMONADE”
he concluded.
Since Evans’ fall in 2018 at Tattersalls International Horse Trials, which left him with a substantial brain injury, he returned to jumping in 2019. However, Evans expressed he felt it difficult to return to his former ability and therefore made the tough decision to change discipline. Evans has since also been running training clinics and keeping a firm foot hold in the industry.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.