Julie Payne

HORSE & HOUND INSPIRATION AWARD

SOMETIMES, a rider comes along who captures the hearts of everybody they meet. Julie Payne (pictured holding the award, with British para dressage performance manager Sarah Armstrong) is one such person, the worthy recipient of the Horse & Hound Inspiration Award for 2017. This is in recognition, not just of her incredible triple gold at the Gothenburg European Championships in August, but of the impact she has had on the para community and the wider horse world.

Five years ago, Julie, 55, received the devastating diagnosis of multiple system atrophy (MSA), which she describes as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and chronic fatigue syndrome all in one.

“I was told then that within two years I would not be able to walk or talk,” remembered Julie, who was forced to give up dressage as her health deteriorated. “MSA is, quite simply, a death sentence.”

But this lady is a fighter and, having begun her para career with her own horse, Pandora, she was offered the ride on Di Redfern’s

Athene Lindebjerg, the former partner of multi gold medallist Sophie Christiansen. Just months after teaming up with Athene, Julie led the British team to a euphoric victory in Gothenburg, producing a massive 78% score under pressure as the Danish team closed in on the top spot.

“All this is totally surreal,” said Julie, who has also climbed Snowdon and abseiled down the ArcelorMittal Orbit building in London for charity since her diagnosis, in an attempt to raise awareness of the disease, and help other sufferers. “I couldn’t do it without Athene, and the enormous support I’ve had from friends, family and Di Redfern. I couldn’t believe it when she asked me to ride Athene.”

‘I was told that within two years I would not be able to walk or talk’ JULIE PAYNE, TRIPLE GOLD MEDALLIST AT THE PARA EUROPEANS