Keystone Dawn Chorus

This “practically perfect” mare could become one of Britain’s biggest medal hopes at this year’s Tokyo Paralympics, finds Polly Bryan

RIDER NATASHA BAKER

“‘LOTTIE’ is like my little Mary Poppins, as she is practically perfect in every way. She is very sweet, both to ride and in the stable.

She is food-obsessed and will do anything for the munchies, and she has such a kind, generous personality – she loves to work and is willing. She will go into any arena or atmosphere and she wants to perform and work with me.

“I don’t have the use of my legs when I ride, but Lottie is a forward-thinking horse and she adapted to my riding quickly. It was helpful that in the weeks before I first went to see Lottie, in

2019, her former owner Beth Bainbridge tried to use her voice as much as she could while riding her, and her legs as little as possible. It helped make it an easy transition for Lottie.

“We have only been able to do a handful of shows together, so from a competition perspective I am still getting to know her. But achieving as much as we have so far, especially in able-bodied dressage, has been beyond my expectations. There is a lot of pressure on me in para dressage, which is why we initially went down the able-bodied route in 2019. It was fun and Lottie loves to go into a long arena and to canter, which we don’t do in my para grade.

“I have also been able to take her hacking, and I balled my eyes out the first time we cantered through a field because I have never had a horse I’ve trusted as much as her. I feel as though anything is possible with Lottie, because we trust each other so much.”

“She adapted to my

riding quickly”

NATASHA BAKER ON HER SPECIAL MARE