Name: Katie Reilly
Age: 14
Parents: Brendan and Karen Reilly
From: Ticknevin, Carbury, Co Kildare. I now live in Cheshire, UK
Did your parents compete? My dad rode racehorses when he was young and my mum competed for Ireland at TREC internationally in Italy
Trainer: Paul Hughes
Who is on your team? Head groom/rider Kerry Hartley, yard groom Hannah Lockheart, physiotherapist Joanne McCusker, occupational therapist Angela Estwick, farrier Darren Slater and my saddler David from Village Saddlery.
Each one of these people help make things happen for me. My physio and OT work with my saddler and work with my day-to-day team to help make thing easier for me. My therapy is in everything I do. I work my whole day around my horses and am currently home-schooled to help with me work around the horses.
Tell us about your top horses. Hadena (Hattie), my nine-year-old mare is by Casmir Dam Zodena, and Impulz w (Ruddy), my new eight-year-old gelding is by Wynton Dam Rubilant.
Who sourced your horses for you? Heike Holstein found and tried Hattie for us. She knew of Hattie as she won the five-year old future dressage horse in 2016 at Cavan. Hattie was produced beautifully by Joanne Logue. Heike then put us in touch with a lady in Belgium, Felma Belg, who we asked to keep an eye out for something special and this is how we came across our big boy Ruddy.
What do you look for in a dressage horse? With the standard in Para (dressage) now they need to be very correct in their movement. Their temperament is a huge importance as this is a true partnership with para riding. We have days were we are not 100% and this is where the horse needs to be a true team player. For me, they need to stand still while I get on as I need help to mount. They also need to be super brave and have a kind nature but can make a big statement when they enter the white boards!
Who encouraged and helped you to become involved in dressage? My mum encouraged me to try dressage as with my disability, which is Cerebral Palsy, it affects the right side of my body. I have had a numerous amount of surgeries on my right arm leg and hip to help my range of movements. My physiotherapist Joanna got me a place with a RDA group in Manchester.
At what age did you compete in your first competition?
My first competition was only three years ago were I was 11. I rode my little pony Boo, who is now actually in foal to a lovely dressage stallion. I had only been riding independently three years before I did my first international.
What level of competition do you compete in now? I have been internationally classified as a Grade III para rider this year and have competed for Ireland at three internationals so far.
What are the challenges of competing at this level? I guess the main challenge internationally competing as a para rider is the team that I need to have travelling with me. With my disability, my fatigue levels are hugely affected. In my grade, I am allowed to have my trainer ride my horses up to 30 minutes per day at an FEI event. To compete two horses this is a must for me so I need my groom, my trainer, and my mum to drive the lorry. But not only when we are away but at home too, to keep an international horse fit and ready to compete and travel I need a team behind me. I am very lucky to have the most amazing crew. I also have amazing support from Equine America, Botanica, Red Mills and DSE Outfitters.
Who has been your greatest influence so far and have other riders been supportive? When I was attending Enable Ireland for my physio sessions in Ireland, one of my therapists knew Irish Dressage Paralympian Helen Kearney who came to an event they were holding. Helen brought her Paralympic medals and let me wear them. From that day I knew what I wanted to do.
Other riders who I really look up to are of course, Heike Holstein, who has been a such amazing help to us, and Cian O’Connor. He is brilliant, he invited us over before the pandemic which we finally got to fly over a few weeks ago to Karlswood. Cian is a big supporter of Irish riders and has offered his help in any way he can. Hopefully if I get to a Europeans, I’ll have both Heike and Cian cheering me on from the sidelines! What a dream!
Also my amazing friend and team mate Irish Para rider Michael Murphy. I have already made many friends on the international circuit. As I am by far the youngest rider among these fantastic riders, they have taken me under their wing. The para world is very supportive.
Tell us about your major achievements to date. In 2019 I was featured on Blue Peter Riding live with TV presenter Claire Balding for the RDA’s 50th anniversary. That same year I was asked to feature on BBC’s Countryfile where myself and the amazing UK Paralympian Sophie Christiansen were interviewed. This year I won my first international Freestyle class which was just amazing.
What are your goals for 2022? Next year, with not just one amazing horse but two, we are planning on doing the home internationals in the UK and heading overseas. I am still too young to try for the Worlds (championships) this year but am looking to get a lot of experience out competing and hopefully plan for the Europeans in 2023.
What advice would you give to someone looking to become involved in para dressage? I guess my main advice would be to find a trainer who is open to finding new ways to ride a horse with a disability. Thinking outside the box and finding not the right way but finding your right way is important.
Get in touch with Para Equestrian Ireland, they are always on hand to help where they can. Most of all, never give up – riders with a disability, I find, are some of the most determined people I know. There is never something someone can’t do, there is just different ways of doing it!
Katie Reilly was in conversation with Emer Bermingham