Meet Nicola Naylor, the blind grand prix dressage rider using for Britain

When Nicola Naylor misplaced her sight, she may consider no motive to stay.

Having been partially sighted since childhood, Nicola had showjumped on ponies, however this proved more difficult on horses. At 18, she thought a profession within the equestrian world was not going to be potential, so went to college. And in her third yr, the sight she did have failed.

“I used to be suicidal,” she says. “I couldn’t see any level in something.

“However my life rebuilt, in so some ways. And now I can look again and say I’ve had probably the most fantastic time, particularly within the final 15 years with horses coming again into my world, which I might by no means have had if I’d put an finish to issues at that time. I’m very grateful now for every single day.”

It took years of rehab, as Nicola “sorted my life out”. She bought a non-equestrian job, with no considered horses or using once more. Then when her daughter began having classes, Nicola went alongside too.

“That was nice enjoyable,” she says. “We have been residing in London and didn’t know anybody within the space so began from scratch and went searching for a 12.2hh. We bought actually fortunate and located probably the most superb pony, and it was my daughter’s coach, who knew my background, who stated: ‘Why don’t you get again on?’

“That type of lit the candle. I’d had very critical again surgical procedure and by no means thought I might get again on – however I did. Driving once more was a beautiful feeling.”

Nicola knew nothing about dressage at that time however she did know that if she was going to journey, she wished to compete.

“That was the beginning of the journey,” she says. “I all the time knew I wished to be one of the best I may very well be.”

European Championships beckon for Nicola Naylor

Now, she’s earnt her first championship call-up for the 2025 British para group, on Humberto L, and can be heading to Ermelo for the European Para Dressage Championships in September.

“I actually loved the dressage and I’ve all the time had twin objectives; realistically, I gained’t go to a championship in a non-disabled sport as being blind makes an enormous distinction,” she says. “However I’d like to go to a championship, that’s why I do para dressage too. I’ve been reserve for the Europeans, worlds and Olympics so it is going to be very nice to cease being reserve!

“That’s a really robust aim, however my different aim is to compete in what’s potential in non-disabled dressage, and definitely prepare on the highest degree. And that’s grand prix.”

Competing, even coaching, at this degree is past the attain of just about everybody. However Nicola and her personal Del Piero V made a profitable grand prix debut in January, aged 63, scoring plus-62%. They’ve since accomplished two extra exams at this degree, growing their scores, and coming second each occasions.

“I most likely gained’t be on a non-disabled worldwide squad however getting an excellent rating at grand prix, even at regional degree, is an achievement – and it makes me a greater rider,” she says.

“It’s not simply to say I’ve achieved grand prix, or getting on a horse and using at that degree, however working my manner up at every degree, which I’ve achieved. I actually benefit from the course of, and it’s fantastic to exit and do it.”

How Nicola Naylor solves her challenges

Nicola thinks the challenges individuals think about she faces in her using might not be the toughest to beat.

“My coach, Sarah Millis, had by no means skilled anybody who’s blind earlier than, and I hadn’t been blind!” she says. “So how would both of us know? It’s been years of arduous work and apply to claw my manner up, and we’re solely originally of the journey.”

Nicola’s first problem is that she has by no means seen dressage; she doesn’t know what a canter pirouette or piaffe-passage appears to be like like. She will be able to’t watch movies, or herself and her horse in a mirror.

“It’s fairly tough to know what a motion ought to appear like,” she says. “And in some methods, my coach, Sarah Millis, trains me like anybody else, however you possibly can’t get away from the very fact it’s totally different as a result of I’m blind.

“So we’ve discovered other ways of doing issues, and it’s been a journey for me and for her. Nobody else has achieved this earlier than, and nobody has skilled anybody to do it earlier than, so all the things is trial and error, and considering of the way to method issues.”

“You may’t get away from the truth that it’s totally different as a result of I’m blind”: Nicola Naylor, aboard Del Piero V, coaching with Sarah Millis. Credit score: Tilly Berendt Media

A few of the largest challenges have been with the grand prix work; staying on the proper line with no visible cues, whereas finishing up a sophisticated motion, could be very arduous.

“For any blind rider, the toughest factor goes down the centre line and staying on it,” she says. “And staying on a diagonal line, and arriving on the proper place on the different finish.”

Nicola is allowed a caller in all exams; for grand prix, Sarah will stand at X and her voice supplies a reference level. However as soon as Nicola passes her on a line, it turns into tougher for her to know the place she is.

“That’s arduous sufficient on a centre line however within the grand prix, instantly you’re doing canter pirouettes on that line, and tempi modifications on the diagonal!” Nicola says.

“It took me ages to study the tempi modifications, most likely longer than most as the important thing to them is being straight. Attaining straightness while you don’t know what you’re aiming for to maintain straight, and the modifications transfer the horse barely, is tough. And while you’re doing canter pirouettes, how have you learnt when to cease? These are the issues I’m nonetheless scuffling with.”

Nicola finds it simpler to know the place she is in relation to the skin of the world, as she will choose the space from the caller. However the caller is barely allowed to name letters, which she’s going to do as Nicola approaches them, after which once more when she has to show, not appropriate her if she is drifting.

“What I discover best, and get highest marks for, is the piaffe-passage,” she provides. “They’re on strains it’s simpler to orientate myself on.”

Circles are tough too, however Nicola has the texture of a 10m or 20m form, and makes use of the caller’s voice to understand how far-off she is. She will be able to additionally detect from urgency within the caller’s tone that she could also be drifting off her line.

“It’s simply relentless apply,” she provides. “Not all on the identical horse, however practising and practising the strains until they change into virtually a sixth sense.

“What’s fascinating is that at residence, I can journey an ideal line of modifications, with no stirrups! However put me in an area I don’t know and I really feel disorientated, and it’s tougher to seek out my manner. That’s when the apply pays off, and provides me the arrogance to journey the road and reassure myself I can do it.”

Enviornment familiarisation at exhibits is a necessity fairly than a luxurious, as this enables Nicola to get a really feel for her area, and know if the footing is using quicker, for instance, which may imply the ends of her strains come up sooner.

There are the opposite challenges, equivalent to the truth that within the grand prix, the caller has to maneuver about to keep away from impeding the judges’ view – and Nicola then finds it tougher to know the place she is.

“It’s taken 15 years to get right here, and I believe I ought to be grateful I’ve managed it,” she says.

“I used to be utterly shell-shocked”

Nicola has ridden her manner up the ladder on totally different horses; she began competing Del Piero at superior medium, six years in the past. She has competed him in para worldwide lessons, and gained, however pulled him out of para championship choice in favour of Humberto L, with whom she was reserve for Paris final yr, as she felt he would go to grand prix.

And he did. Nicola says she was “utterly shell-shocked” when she achieved that aim.

“I don’t assume the penny dropped the day of the present,” she says. “It wasn’t, ‘Let’s have fun, I’ve achieved my first grand prix.’ It was ‘That’s superb, I’ve achieved it – and now I must go and do it a bit higher!’ You simply need to preserve going, don’t you?

“For each door that closes, one other one opens, and I’m grateful every single day to be fortunate sufficient to have skilled that. And if I’d by no means bought to grand prix, or if I by no means bought on a para championship group, I wouldn’t collapse, as a result of I’ve had such a improbable time attempting to get there.”

“I’m grateful every single day,” says Nicola, pictured with Humberto L. Credit score: Tilly Berendt Media

Nicola Naylor’s coach’s view

Coach Sarah Millis says Nicola is “superb” to work with.

“Her dedication and really feel – and her, herself,” she provides. “It’s simply discovering other ways of explaining issues typically; as a result of she will’t watch a video or look in a mirror. She had an incredible 10 years coaching with Dan Watson, and when she first got here right here I used to be a bit apprehensive. Was I going to have the ability to do a ok job? However from the beginning, we’ve labored collectively.”

Sarah has needed to find out how Nicola works, and work with that in addition to making new recommendations.

“Sure, she will’t see, and that makes an enormous distinction, however she’s superb,” she says. “She rides around the fields and with different individuals. Heat-ups will be fascinating, however they are often even when everybody can see the place they’re going!”

Nicola Naylor rides Moulin Rouge VIII across the area, feeling when she’s off the observe by the altering floor underfoot. Credit score: Tilly Berendt Media

Sarah has discovered from Nicola, in addition to the opposite manner spherical; strategies which have labored for her additionally assist different horses and riders.

“She’s extraordinarily decided; somebody who says, ‘That’s what I wish to do,’ and goes and does it,” she says. “She’s a really proficient rider, she by no means complains or makes excuses. She’s very supportive of different riders, and takes extraordinarily excellent care of her horses.

“I had just a little tear, when she did her grand prix. She’d truly gone and achieved it. I used to be very proud.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all elements of the business, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, by which she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping exhibits by to worldwide championships.