THE Paris Paralympics may still be a couple of years away, but it\u2019s likely the Ballarat region will be taking a keen interest in some local talent.<\/p>\n
Gordon-based equestrian athlete Kelly Ffrost, and horse Dijon, are on a pathway to the games, as a F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Equestre Internationale para dressage team that\u2019s currently ranked 31st in the world.<\/p>\n
They train with Equine Pathways in Narre Warren and are on the Australian Institute of Sport Generation Next Para-Equestrian High-Performance Squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m current Australian National Champion, and I\u2019m hoping to get my second national champion title in October,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dressage tests involve walk-trot movements some lateral movements, but not many, and the judges, up to seven of them in Paralympics and three in normal competitions, mark us on everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get good feedback from all the different judges, so you know what to focus your energy on for the upcoming competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking towards Paris 2024, Ffrost said she will be very proud if she can reach the highest level in her sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re working with an animal and don\u2019t know what the horse is going to do, so it\u2019s unpredictable, but I\u2019m hoping for the best,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a big challenge but lots of fun. Hopefully I can go to another country and show off my country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ffrost grew up riding with a pony club, and then got into hobby trail riding, but after a spinal cord injury, her next chapter was parasport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t stop riding. It was a part of me,\u201d she said. \u201cMy horse Charlie is at home and retired now, but he was my steppingstone.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have four kids, so I love that horse riding gets me out of the house and gives me something else to focus on other than family life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also been one of the best things for my mental health, because otherwise I would have sat at home and moped.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ffrost also receives competition, and strength and conditioning support, from the WestVic Academy of Sport.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Paris Paralympics may still be a couple of years away, but it\u2019s likely the Ballarat region will be taking a keen interest in some local talent. Gordon-based equestrian athlete Kelly Ffrost, and horse Dijon, are on a pathway to the games, as a F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Equestre Internationale para dressage team that\u2019s currently ranked 31st in […]<\/p>\n