IN September of 2022, para-equestrian athlete Kelly Ffrost broke her femur in a riding accident.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were in limbo about whether we would find a horse, and whether I\u2019d be able to ride at the level I was doing beforehand,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019ve moved on with another para rider\u2019s horse called Karabil Park Janz. He\u2019s downgraded to my level, grade three, and he\u2019s doing well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll campaign for Paris. We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been on the Australian team twice within Australia, but I\u2019d love to see what it\u2019s like to have that high-level international exposure.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Their initial test together, which was Ffrost\u2019s first comp back from injury, was only their eighth ever ride as a combination.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t go badly, because I got my first qualification score,\u201d she said. \u201cNow I\u2019ve got to work a little bit harder towards Nationals in October, and hopefully that goes a little bit better than April did.<\/p>\n
\u201cA qualification score of 64 per cent, in either a team or individual test, is an International Paralympic Committee requirement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you get that requirement, then you look at getting selection or nomination scores. The selection policy hasn\u2019t yet been released, but at the Worlds, they wanted over 70 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hoping it\u2019s around that number this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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. \u201cWe were in limbo about whether we would find […]<\/p>\n