An Oxford mum will represent the country in the upcoming Para Dressage Home Nations competition later this month.
Summertown-based mother of three Anna Morris has been selected to represent the south and west region, and England, in the competition at Arena UK near Grantham in Lincolnshire on June 27 to 29.
Ms Morris described the Home Nations as the "Rugby Six Nations without France and Italy, and with dancing horses".
Having been diagnosed with autoimmune condition transverse myelitis six years ago and becoming paralysed very suddenly, she said the Abingdon Riding For Disabled (RDA) team had assisted her to get back in the saddle.
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The 46-year-old runs the horse riding lessons at the Dragon School in Oxford and she will be sure to impress her students when she rides a horse called Sami, or Godington Toccata, in the Silver grade three dressage tests.
Ms Morris said: "I used to do a lot of riding when I was younger, being an active member of the Romney Marsh Pony Club, and then competing successfully in eventing.
"I then got transverse myelitis six years ago, becoming paralysed very suddenly.
"In my case it affects my core, pelvis and legs and feet, causing weakness, numbness and neuropathic pain."
Ms Morris said the condition made everything harder to do and meant tasks required more energy - but with her perseverance she had returned to the sport she loved.
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She said: "I am quite a determined person, so managed to exercise hard with physios to get back walking, and then, with the help of the Abingdon RDA, I got back to riding, which to be honest, is much more fun than physio.
"I found that my muscle memory was really strong, and it has been fun to work out my new normal.
"I competed at the RDA Nationals, and then was introduced to Julie Payne, my coach, who is also a para-European gold medallist, so she knows her stuff."
Together Ms Morris and Sami qualified for the para-dressage winter championships in February, coming home with two wins and a second place finish, and will now represent England, the south and west.
She said: "I am currently looking for sponsorship as I have found something I can really enjoy and do well at.
"I look positively and embrace the challenges in life, focusing on the things I can do - and I'm aiming high, looking at LA in four years time, if dreams can come true."
Sami belongs to Ms Morris' coach Julie Payne and was bred by Jennie Loriston-Clarke.
He has previously competed to a high level of able-bodied dressage with Lucy Clothier.
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