Natasha Baker scoops Silver in the Tokyo Paralympic Dressage Grade III

Natasha Baker scoops Silver in the Tokyo Paralympic Dressage grade III.

On the hunt for her sixth Paralympic title, Natasha fell slightly short as she scooped a respectable silver medal from this year’s Paralympic Games.

Taking on grade III competition, the British rider was a grade II champion in London and Rio on horse, Cabral. However, now stepping up to grade III, she also arrived in Tokyo with limited experience on current horse, Keystone Dawn Chorus. She only began riding her new mount in March 2019.

The combination were 10th to go, in a field of 18. Briefly leading with her phenomenal score of 76.324, gold was just not to be in Japan.

Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen, riding Jolene Hill, swiftly pushed her into second with a winning score of 78.971. Meanwhile, Dutch rider, Rixt Van Der Horst aboard Findsley clinched bronze with 75.765.

Leaving today’s stage with silver, Natasha was please with her and Keystone Dawn Chorus’ efforts

The thing that we’re lacking is competition experience because we just haven’t had the opportunities to go to competitions because of Covid.”

“If we were here 12 months ago, I don’t think I would have got 76 per cent.”

“It’s our first competition together like this so that means that next year I can go into the world championships with more confidence and really fight for that gold medal, whereas fighting for the gold medal was never a thing coming here.”

“It was just if I win a medal, awesome; I just want to give her a really positive experience.”

Natatsha’s medal is the fifth Team GB equestrian medal of the Tokyo Paralympics> On day one of equestrian competition in Japan, Sir Lee Pearson added another gold, in the Grade II test, to his 11 strong collection. Meanwhile, Paralympic debutant also scored a bronze medal in the same competition. Sophie Wells took away silver in the Grade V.

Header image; Natasha Baker riding Keystone Dawn Chorus at the Tokyo Paralympics (British Equestrian/Jon Stroud)