This month’s Young Rider hails from Western Australia and is a keen equestrian with many credits to her name.
Growing up on her parents 770-acre farm Sharon was bitten early by the pony bug and by the time she was five she was at pony club.
But when she was only seven, disaster struck. I was diagnosed with a Sarcoma Bone Tumour in my left femur, she says. I was given a 20 per cent chance of survival and three months to live, but I defied the odds to survive. But the complications of cancer meant she was unable to ride for six years. I have limited movement and strength in my left leg and the lower part of my right leg, she says, but as soon as I was able to ride again I jumped straight back into it.
Sharon has now competed up to Prix St George level at CDI level and Inter 1 at State level as well as having progressed several ponies and horses through the lower ranks.
My current horses are Ceasy and Lord Larmarque, Sharon says.
Ceasy is an eleven-year-old Black Dutch Warmblood Mare who is 17 hands high. Lord Larmarque is also eleven, and is a 16.2 Chestnut Hanoverian stallion. I started competing in Para Equestrian competitions in 2006 and I’ve enjoyed success at the Elite level, competing at my first World Championships in 2007.
Most recently Sharon competed Ceasy at the Rio Paralympics and came away with a ninth placing in the Individual Championship.
I enjoy motivational speaking, but my heart is with my equines, she says.
I have a huge passion for the para sports in Australia and for mentoring others.
Sharon is now aiming for the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 and we look forward to following her journey.
This article taken from HorseVibes’s August 2018 issue.
