Competitions

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About Me

Full Name: Kathryn Siobhan Wheelock

D.O.B: 13 September 1975

Disability: Cerebral Palsy (and Learning Disability).

Internationally, mental impairment is not accepted as a disability at the moment, so I ride in IPEC competitions based on my physical disability.

I find it hard to co-ordinate my limbs and it's hard for me to move my left and right sides independently of each other. I'm weaker down my right side, but riding has definitely made me stronger and more balanced.

Due to my learning difficulties. I have a poor short term memory, so dressage is great for me as I can have my tests called. I also have problems with spatial awareness so it's 'practice makes perfect' when it comes to learning the movements and shapes required in my tests.

FEI Classification : Grade III (profile 26a)

PROFILE 26: FOUR LIMBS REDUCED IN FUNCTION.
Moderate to slight paresis, spasticity, athetosis or deformity in all four limbs. Balance and gross co-ordination affected.

26a: moderate to slight spasticity or athetosis in all four limbs.
26b: moderate to slight paresis or deformity in all four limbs.

For more information on Classification click here to download the IPEC Classification Manual or visit the FEI Para Equestrian website

Career Highlights:

Riding in my first BD affiliated Elementary tests in January 2007, and winning E44.

Representing Ireland at Hartpury and Moorsele, Belgium in 2006. Securing a 7th place and achieving the Paralympic Qualifying standard at Moorsele 2006.

Becoming the British National Disabled Dressage Rider Champion 2004, and RDA National Champion 2003 and 2006, and RDA National Kur Champion 2005.

Winning classes at the Irish and Spanish Disabled Dressage Championships and coming 4th in the Kur at the Dutch Open 2005.

Coming 2nd to World Champion, Debbie Criddle at the 2003 International at Hartpury, and beating a number of riders who represented their countries at the World Champs.

Being Top Equine Student at Craven College 2002

Ambitions: To ride at the Paralympics in 2008 & 2012 and the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky 2010.

Education: Further Education through Horse Mastership, Fortune Centre for Riding Therapy; NVQ in Horse Care, Craven College.

Qualifications: BHS Stage 1 Riding, NVQ 1 in Horse Care.

Memberships: Otley & District RDA Group, Yorkshire and Cleveland Regional RDA Dressage Group, British Horse Society, British Dressage, Trawden Forest and Borders Bridleways Association.

Trainers:

Sue Joy, Donie McNamara and Hannah & Becky Moody.

Hannah

Hannah Moody

Me with Edward Gal

Horses: My current horses are Indi and Taurus III. I have had quite a few horses/ponies before them - Ginger and Flicka were my first ponies and then I moved on to the 15.2 Cat Balou (Penny). Then I had the star pony Jon Boy George for about 8 years and he taught me so much and I competed him in my first two internationals. Then I had Winne (Ruxton Weihnacht) and also, on loan, Eliza Doolittle.

Favourite Dressage Riders: Becky Moody, and Hannah and Becky doing the pas de deux. Also, Edward Gal, since I met him and got his autograph when in Holland, and fellow dutch rider Anky van Grunsven who I saw riding in Belgium 2006.