FEATURE STORY
“I’ve always strongly believed that everything happens for a reason. At first, I couldn’t see any reason for what happened to me but now I’ve realised that it’s so I can go to the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016” said Emma Booth at a Fundraising Ball in her honour in 2013, just months after a near-fatal car crash. Emma was returning from an equestrian competition in Australia when the road accident that caused multiple life-threatening injuries also left her unable to walk. But just seven months later, she made her international debut in 2014 at the CPEID3* at Hartpury, UK, where she finished in the top 10 and, as the highest scoring Australian, was named as a reserve rider for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in France. In 2016, she achieved the goal she had set herself so soon after the terrible accident - competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with her horse Zidane. Now 30 years old, Emma has just returned to Australia after competing at her second Paralympic Games at Tokyo 2020 where she once again took fifth place in the Freestyle competition. Emma and her horse Zidane finished in eighth place in the individual competition on the first night to qualify for the Freestyle, as well as completing a solid performance to score 68% on the second night despite a few little mishaps, to contribute as part of the Australian team which finished in 13th place. Thanks to her treasured horse Zidane, she also became the first Paralympian to represent Australia twice on the same horse, but it is now time for Zidane to hang up his competition boots and enjoy a well-deserved rest after many years of a great partnership. “It’s time for him to enjoy trail rides, going to the beach and some fun stuff” says Emma of the 19-year-old Danish bred warmblood who has been her partner on this journey for the past six years. After travelling overseas to try and find the right horse with no success, it turned out that the perfect match, Zidane, was just ten EMMA BOOTH – LOOKING AHEAD TO PARIS 2024 BY DEBBIE HIGGS
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