Rider back in the saddle for Paralympic dream

IN September of 2022, para-equestrian athlete Kelly Ffrost broke her femur in a riding accident.

Having taken seven months away from training to recover, Ffrost has overcome her injury, and is literally back on the horse, with her sights set on the Paris Paralympics in 2024.

“We were in limbo about whether we would find a horse, and whether I’d be able to ride at the level I was doing beforehand,” she said.

“But I’ve moved on with another para rider’s horse called Karabil Park Janz. He’s downgraded to my level, grade three, and he’s doing well.

“We’ll campaign for Paris. We’re definitely very eager and keen, we just need to work really hard. It would be very magical to ride in Paris, and to represent Australia is a big thing.

“We’ve been on the Australian team twice within Australia, but I’d love to see what it’s like to have that high-level international exposure.”

In the coming months, Ffrost is set to commit to training five days a week, with exercise physiotherapy and sports psychology support, but she and Janz are already proving to be a positive pairing.

Their initial test together, which was Ffrost’s first comp back from injury, was only their eighth ever ride as a combination.

“It didn’t go badly, because I got my first qualification score,” she said. “Now I’ve got to work a little bit harder towards Nationals in October, and hopefully that goes a little bit better than April did.

“A qualification score of 64 per cent, in either a team or individual test, is an International Paralympic Committee requirement.

“If you get that requirement, then you look at getting selection or nomination scores. The selection policy hasn’t yet been released, but at the Worlds, they wanted over 70 per cent.

“We’re hoping it’s around that number this time.”

Ffrost is supported by the WestVic Academy of Sport and will also aim to compete at an international para-equestrian dressage competition in Tamworth in spring, which is a three-star qualification meet.