Canadian Para-Equestrian rider and 2008 Paralympic gold medalist Lauren Barwick gives a horsemanship lesson in Nuangola to Nicole Ford a horse trainer herself.
"I don't want him in your space anymore than that right now. Go back to your left," said Lauren Barwick.
Barwick is the former #1 Para-Equestrian rider in the world. Ford invited her to Pennsylvania to speak about her "Bump in the Road". The incident in 2000 where a 100lb. bale of hay fell on her leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.
"I wouldn't say that breaking your back is an "Oh! Goody!", but there are no guarantees or warranties. When you're born, the doctor doesn't give you a warranty and say hey here we go when they're broken bring them back," added Lauren.
After her accident Lauren gave up professional riding for one year then was encouraged to get back on a horse. Since then she's competed in four World Games, three Paralympics and has won many medals in freestyle, para-dressage, and open competitions.
"I'm passionate about it. It's not that I thought I'd be passionate about riding but that I find myself cleaning the stalls and cleaning horses and feeding them all day long. I have a great connection with horses and it's special to have that," again said Lauren.
"The big reason why we brought her in today we hope to inspire our clients and our community to overcome obstacles at all odds," said Nicole Ford.
Nicole is hoping to take the instruction that she is learning from Lauren into the future and teach other horses the same thing just like the one's Rocky is learning today.
"Rocky is my main horse so I really hope to bring him along. He came from a pretty bad situation and I can't believe the progress he's made under the tutelage of Lauren and people just like her," again said Nicole.
"We talk about being calm, connected, and responsive and sometimes it doesn't happen in that order and depending on the type of horse we have what's called horseanalities which is their right brain-left brain-introverted-extroverted. We just wanted to make it safe for her to get on and calm," again said Lauren.
"Whoop. Yip . Yip good!!!."
Lauren is now living in Florida after spending the past 6 months competing in Europe. Her next challenge is the 2016 paralympic games in Brazil.
