Happy, relieved, and emotional

Emma Booth struggled to find the words to express her gratitude after finishing her Dressage Individual Test and earning a second ride in the Individual Freestyle Championship.

Humbled by the support of Aussies back home, Booth said she felt like the nation was behind the team at the Paralympics.

“I am excited to make it to Tokyo and represent Australia on the world stage, particularly with everything that’s happening in the world at the moment,” said Booth.

“A lot of us were questioning whether it would actually happen, so it’s amazing to be here, it’s something to give everybody a sense of hope and maybe inspire and motivate people a little bit.”

Heading into the arena with a top ten ranking, the Grade III Para-Equestrian, and her horse Zidane, put in a strong performance to place 8th with a score of 70.059 %, qualifying them for the Dressage Individual Freestyle Test.

“There were definitely a few little bits marked here and there where we could have done a little bit better on or gained a few extra marks for, but overall I’m just I’m really happy with Zidane and how he went, he was with me the whole time, he really looked after me. I really couldn’t have asked for any more of him,” said Booth.

Booth, who started riding when she was 11, won a pony for 12 months through a competition called ‘The Saddle Club’.

“That’s how I started and the journey kind of went from there,” said Booth.

In 2013,, Booth was in a near-fatal car accident and was left a paraplegic. She was hospitalised for months and underwent life-saving abdominal surgery. Booth then had a further operation to repair her spinal column before turning her sights to Para-Equestrian in 2014.

Booth credits Para-Equestrian as making an immense difference to her life as she has been able to continue to do the sport she loves despite her injuries.

“It gives me motivation and a focus, I don’t know where I would be without it,” Booth said.

With the completion of the Individual Dressage Tests, nations have turned their attention to the top honour, the Dressage Team Championship.

15 nations will go head to head to vie for the Championship, held by Great Britain since its inception in 1996.

The current World and European Champion holder, The Netherlands are expected to be tough competition for the Aussie team, along with Team USA.

The Americans currently hold the top International Equestrian Federation Para-Dressage Paralympic Team Ranking. Also in the mix for a podium finish are Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

Don’t miss the Aussie’s in action:

Saturday 28 August
20:02 (21:02 AEST) Emma Booth, Dressage Team Test to Music

Sunday 29 August
18:00 (19:00 AEST) Amelia White and Sharon Jarvis, Dressage Team Test to Music

Monday 30 August
17:14 (18:14 AEST) Amelia White – Dressage Individual Freestyle Test – Grade V
18:33 (19:33 AEST) Emma Booth – Dressage Individual Test – Dressage Individual Freestyle Test – Grade III

By: Amanda Scott, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 27 August 2021