Petplan Equine teams up with Paralympian Natasha Baker

From heartbreak in Beijing to the road to Rio

In the latest blog from our ParalympicsGB Allianz ambassadors, we hear from dressage rider, Natasha Baker on her Paralympic journey to date, how qualification for equestrian works and her ambitions for Rio.

In many ways equestrian was a natural step for me as I was brought up surrounded by horses on the family farm. It was something I’d always wanted to do and I started at the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) aged eight. My first taste of Paralympic sport was when I watched the Sydney Paralympics in 2000 and it was then that I decided I would be a Paralympic champion one day.

Heartbreak in Beijing

I started competing aged 15 and won my first competition at 16. I was on track to compete in Beijing 2008 but one of my horses sadly went lame just weeks before the finals. As well as missing out on my first big opportunity, it was also hard to see my horse go that way.

But that made me more determined than ever to succeed. After the disappointment of missing out on Beijing, I couldn’t wait to compete at London 2012. I can’t describe the experience in one word – but it was super, super exciting. Our sport has been in the Paralympics since 1996 and the team has never come home without a medal. While I don’t get especially nervous, knowing that fact in the back of your mind puts a certain pressure on! Saying that, I had the least pressure in the team as I was the youngest and also the first to go out on the day.

I worked a lot with a sports psychologist before and he said to remember that the only difference when competing at the Paralympics is the arena. He said you’ve done it a million times before so there’s no reason why you can’t do it on the biggest stage.

The road to Rio

Competing this year started a couple of weeks ago. I take part in both the individual and the freestyle events. In the individual, everyone rides the same test and you’re judged on every movement. In the freestyle you’re given a list of moves and can perform them in any order. You also choose the music and are judged on the choreography and musicality – the freestyle is definitely my favourite!

There are five grades within dressage – 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, with 1a being for athletes who are the most disabled. In the Paralympics you have to take an athlete in the grade 1 or 2 events. We’ve already qualified all five places in Rio for Great Britain But now it’s up to us to compete for those qualification places. As well as competing against the other 2s, I’m also competing against everyone on the team for one of those places. Even if I’m top of my grade, I’ve got to score one of the top five highest % out of my team, so consistency is key.

I’m looking forward to Rio – I have confidence in myself and I’d love to come home with medals. I’ll keep doing my best, and as long as the horses are happy then so am I!

Looking after horses is a 24/7 job

In the latest blog from our ParalympicsGB Allianz ambassadors, we hear from equestrian star, Natasha Baker on what she looks for in a horse, her day to day routine and her motivations.

This may surprise you but the selectors actually decide which horses we use at the Games. This is based on our performance and how they think the horses will respond.

But before we get to that stage we have to choose our horses. When choosing a horse, the first thing I look for is temperament. I have to see that they can work with me and aren’t scared – I’m not getting on a horse to fall off! They also have to have the paces to win medals.

The second thing is trainability. I ride in a different way to able-bodied riders, and as I can’t use my legs, the horses have to respond positively to my voice commands and seat movements.

Our horses need 24/7 care. While you won’t be surprised that there’s no such thing as a typical day for me, there are some things that are a regular feature. I go to the yard first thing to groom the horses and get the feed ready – they need 24/7 care, regardless of whether it’s your birthday or Christmas! I ride six days a week and we all have the day off on Sunday (horses included).

We try and mix up the things we do with the horses. We do some hacking (trotting/free walking) around the field so that the horses can see and experience some different things, as well as some lunging with the rope to give the horses a break from having someone on their back the whole time. It’s important to vary the regime, so I also do some swimming and work in the gym.

On the theme of keeping things interesting, one of the things I’m often asked is how I keep myself motivated. The simple answer is more gold medals! I love training horses and it gives me a real kick. I’m stupidly competitive and want to win as many medals as possible. I think I get that from my parents – my mum also rides horses and competes, while Dad loves his cars. I hope this will spur me onto success in Rio!

Competition Nerves

Natasha Baker, double gold medal-winning Paralympic Dressage rider, tells us about how she deals with competition nerves in the run up to major competitions and how she has developed her ability to be mentally strong on such occasions.

Up to just a few years ago Natasha used to think that she had forgotten her dressage test just minutes before she was to enter the arena, then panic and ask for it to be called out. This is a familiar feeling for all of us who have tried to remember a test in the stressful environment of competing at any level. Natasha explains how she had to learn to have confidence in herself and her abilities. Now, with expert help, team support and techniques learnt from the sports psychologist, Natasha has been able to overcome many of her fears.

Here Natasha tells us more about her tips to help beat your competition nerves.

We all want our horses to perform at their best when competing, but travelling can be unsettling for them. Here are Natasha’s tips on how she keeps her horse JP happy and healthy whilst travelling and staying away at shows…

• It’s important to continue your normal routine as much as possible. My Mum is my groom both at home and at competitions, so my horse JP has a familiar face around him and knows who is going to be looking after him.
• Feed well in advance before you travel, so that your horse has time to digest his food properly.
• Make sure your horse stays at a comfortable temperature. It can get hot in the back of a lorry, so if you have fans in there, ensure that they are turned or make sure windows and vents are open.
• If you are stabling away at a show, keep your feeding times as similar as possible to those at home.
• Maintain other aspects of your usual routine as well – if you work your horse for 45 minutes at home, don’t suddenly start overworking him and ride for an hour and a half at a competition. You should have done your training at home, prior to the event.
• Understand what is normal for your horse. Check his temperature regularly at home to gauge what it should be, so that you can respond to a potential drop or rise.
• Some horses don’t like drinking away from home. However, it’s vital to keep them hydrated, so pop some apple juice into their water to encourage them to drink.
• Keep everything as stress-free as possible. If you get tense or nervous, you will translate your negative energy to your horse.
• Always allow plenty of time to get ready – you don’t want to be in a rush.
• Drop the ramp as soon as you arrive at the venue to allow the cool air in and let the horse have a look around at what is going on.
• If we are stabling away, we regularly graze the horse in-hand. This simulates their home routine, because we usually turn them out every day, it allows them to get their heads down, which is beneficial for them, and is a great opportunity for them to assess their surroundings and relax.
• I love travelling and competing, but it can be a struggle for me physically. It takes me a couple of days to recover from travelling long distances because I get really stiff – sitting still isn’t good for me. And, because I ride without stirrups, being stiff is detrimental because I ‘bounce around’ more. I frequently have to do exercises which my physio has given me to help me stay supple.
• Remember to enjoy yourself - we all ride because we love it!

Natasha has found that routine is key to JP’s preparation with a combination of schooling and hacking which keeps his reactions quick and engages his interest. Moreover, for the rider there’s no doubt that the fitter you are, the better you will ride. Despite Natasha struggling with gym work because it can affect her back, she regularly swims which is a great cardio workout that benefits her overall fitness and therefore her performance when riding.

In addition, we can often underestimate the importance of mental strength. In 2012, Natasha worked extensively with the team sports psychologist, who also worked with her Mum and trainer. Such work helped her to develop strength, build confidence and focus her efforts directly on her achieving her goals.

Natasha’s team is invaluable in all aspects of preparation for any competition. She likes JP to have familiar faces around him who he knows and feels comfortable with – it helps to keep everything settled and is a system that works for the whole team.

Natasha’s video takes us through her preparation and training for competitions.

Buying a Horse

Balancing both ability and personality are key to the success of any horse, and must be considered in the purchasing process. Here is the story of Natasha’s journey in finding the perfect horse.

Finding the right horse is always difficult. For me, it is particularly hard. I need a horse with the paces, movement and presence to excel at top-level dressage, but one with the temperament and manners that I can trust to behave consistently well, particularly in the atmosphere of a big competition.

Personal fitness – Natasha provides advice on the importance of riders being both mentally and physically fit.