Australia’s Para-equestrian Team Start In Style At Beautiful Versailles

On the opening day of the Para-equestrian competition at the Château de Versailles, Stella Barton and Bridget Murphy rode down the spectacular centreline in the Grade I and II Individual Tests respectively.

Murphy and ‘Penmain Promise’, known as Macey, were the first Australian combination to take to the sand, delivering a pleasing test with a score of 66.724% placing them in seventh position.

“I knew she’d [Macey] be OK, but you can’t really prepare for something like competing at a Paralympic Games, so we were just testing the waters a little bit this morning. I know she’s fine so we can push a bit more next time,” said Murphy.

“I was so pleased with how she handled everything, she’s just a young horse so we’ve really thrown her in the deep end, but I was so pleased with how she went – she really tried her heart out for me.

There was not a dry eye in Versailles when Grade I rider Barton and ‘Lord Larmarque’, known as Bug, performed a beautiful test, scoring 70.833% to finish in eighth place.

“Today was a dream come true for me, it was absolutely amazing. We were aiming for over 70% in our debut at the Paralympics, and we’ve done it – I’m so proud of myself,” said Barton.

Both combinations have qualified to compete in the individual freestyle on Saturday.

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By: Ashley Gillespie, Paralympics Australia

Published: 3 September 2024