“YOU COME OUT OF A PARALYMPIC GAMES ON SUCH A HIGH AND KNOWING THAT THE NEXT ONE IS ONLY THREE YEARS AWAY IS VERY NICE
Despite that, they produced a Freestyle score of 73.807% for fifth place, less than3%offapodiumfinish. “To finish fifth in the Freestyle at Tokyo was awesome,” says Emma, “I really don’t think we could have done any better in that grade and that field. There were some extremely competitive combinations, and it was a big ask for an older horse but Zidane really held his own.”
All smiles for Emma as she and Zidane leave the Tokyo arena for the last time. Image: Getty
“It was an incredibly emotional night, knowing that it was his last ride on the world stage and after such a long lead up to the Games. I came out of the arena after the Freestyle test and my coach, who is not one prone to crying, was in tears; it was a very moving moment and such a lovely way to end our career together.” With the delay of Tokyo 2020, the next major Para Dressage Championship is now fast approaching with the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2022 and Emma is hoping to have another horse qualified to compete. “I have a lovely Off The Track thoroughbred – Pakaya Prince – and it will be exciting to see how far he can go as a Para-dressage horse, but for the coming major championships I need to add another top level campaigner,” she says. There is a possibility of campaigning towardsWEG from Europe as that may be where the next horse is found but there is much to consider. “It is exciting - you come out of a Paralympic Games on such a high and knowing that the next one is only three years away is very nice!”
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