Getting back on the horse

A LOCAL para-athlete has suffered an injury setback in the lead-up to the Paralympics in Paris, but isn’t letting it get her down.

Para-equestrian athlete Kelly Ffrost from Gordon broke her leg late last year – her second broken leg in two years – but is hopeful she can still qualify for the Games in August.

“I was at a competition at Werribee in December, when the wind caused an arena fence to blow over and my horse got spooked,” Ms Ffrost said.

“I ended up hanging at his shoulder. I continued the day riding two tests with a broken leg, not realising I had done any damage…it was only once I arrived home that my leg swelled so I went to the doctor’s….X-rays confirmed a broken tibia.”

Nomination policy for the Paralympic Games states that a prospective para-equestrian athlete must attend two qualifiers between January and June.

Ms Ffrost was planning to attend the February and April qualifiers, with the former not possible after the leg break.

She still hopes to attend the qualifier being held this month, and while Paralympic qualification won’t be possible now, she’s looking ahead to a prestigious event in 2026.

“Of course I was shattered as a lot of time, teamwork and effort go into a campaign, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without the support I received from my coach Julia Battams, Paralympics Australia, FedUni WestVic Academy of Sport, Equine Pathways Australia, Crossroads Trading, owners of horses I have been competing with Dani Fraillon and Lucy Coates, and my horses’ groomer for events Jane Mitchell,” Ms Ffrost said.

“The horse I was riding, Karabil Park Janz, has now been retired, so going forward I’ll be starting off with a new combination, and aiming towards the World Championships in Aachen, Germany in 2026 to give me time to heal and return to my pre-injury state.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead as we are going to be working with an off the track thoroughbred and get him up the grades and see how we go.”

And, despite not being able to qualify for the Paralympics, Ms Ffrost is currently doing school talks for Paralympics Australia, encouraging kids to support the Games once they start on 28 August.