In 2003 International show jumper Heather Bennett suffered an accident that not only changed her life, but also the direction of her riding career.
“We were competing at Bishop Wilton show as a warm-up before Hickstead,” said Heather. “I came off at the last part of a combination. I don’t remember much else, but I broke my neck.
“Everyone said I shouldn’t ride again, but I kept the horse and two years later I was riding him again. I am a competitive person and I had to show everyone I could do it.”
Unfortunately, just a few months after getting back in the saddle Heather was back in hospital again with a badly broken leg caused when a horse reared as she was dismounting.
“My left tibia and fibula were broken badly,” continued Heather. “That meant another 12 months recuperating.”
Following the accidents Heather, who is based at Eastrington near Howden in East Yorkshire, was left with limited sensation and weakness in her hands as well as in her legs, and limited mobility in her neck.
“I had never considered dressage before, and certainly not Para Dressage,” said Heather. “But horses are a way of life and I’ve been riding since I was three years old so not riding was not an option.
“It’s taken lots and lots of hard work, lots of training and lots of pain, but I was determined to compete again and my competitiveness drives me to get better and better. I set my standards very high.”
Heather’s partner is 17:3hh bay gelding Symphony (Sid), who was brought over from Holland about 12 months ago. The partnership have been working to get the horse used to Heather’s way of riding.
She said: “I still compete at Para Show Jumping, but for example in a jump-off I can’t just turn my head to look at the clock or where the next fence is, I have almost turn my whole body, which can affect the horse’s way of going.
“We have to work hard to get them used to that, but Sid is fantastic – he’s very chilled out.”
Heather makes no secret of the fact she has her eye firmly on a Paralympic outing.
“I am definitely looking at 2012 or 2016. To get to the top of what you do would be brilliant and to ride at the Paralympics would be amazing.”
Heather Bennett and Symphony during Friday's Grade III 2* Test
Heather has been selected for the Home International team which will compete at Vale View in Leicestershire in August.
At the time of writing Heather was leading the Grade III tests with a score of 67.87.
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