Five Minutes With... Grace Bowman

Grace and Kirby Park Joy (photos courtesy of www.gracebowman.au.com)

Grace won first place at the Victorian Young Rider Championships, which was the third Para-Equestrian nomination event for the 2012 Paralympic Games

After a horse riding accident in 2002 left her a paraplegic, Grace Bowman showed courage and determination to follow her dreams by getting ‘back in the saddle’ a mere five months later and hasn't looked back since!

In 2006 at age fifteen, Grace made her international para-equestrian debut in England and Canada where she won three bronze and three gold medals respectively. She has since competed regularly in Grade II para-equestrian events, including the 2008 Paralympics and the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

Now, after great success in the nomination events, Grace has been chosen as a member of the Australian Para-equestrian Team for London 2012.

Horsezone caught up with Grace in the lead up to London...

Grace, Congratulations on being chosen for the Team! When did you first become involved with horses and dream of competing at the Olympics/Paralympics?

I became involved with horses at the age of six after convincing my parents to give me riding lessons. As a little girl I dreamed of representing Australia at the Olympics, and after the horse riding accident when I was twelve this dream changed to Paralympics.

What plans did you set in place to help make your dream a reality?

At thirteen I started competing at State and National Para-dressage Championships and was lucky enough to have access to some lessons with the National Para-equestrian Coach when I was fifteen. From this I was given the opportunity to represent Australia at a Young Rider competition in 2006. After success at this competition I was elevated to the Paralympic Preparation Program and this gave me the opportunity to represent Australia at the 2008 Paralympic Games and kept me on track to the 2012 Games.

How did you feel when you first found out you were on the team?

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks after I was selected that the reality of what I had achieved really set in and it was a very exciting and satisfying feeling.

Equestrian is the only Olympic/Paralympic sport where an animal is classed as an athlete. What do you look for when purchasing a horse?

When purchasing a potential Paralympic horse the major things that we look for are three very nice paces combined with a super temperament. This is not always easy to find! Also, because I can’t ride using my legs at all, it is important that the horse has a movement that I can actually sit to!

Tell us a bit about your equine partner for the Paralympics?

Rolly, aka Kirby Park Joy, is a very special and talented mare. Bred by Megan Jones, Rolly was born into a competitive environment. Megan competed her as an eventer up to 2* level until my dad and I bought her as an eight year old. Rolly has a super quiet temperament and is very trainable, which made her transition from eventing to Para-Dressage fairly easy. I have been riding Rolly since April 2009 and have won the 2010, 2011 and 2012 National Para-Dressage. We also competed at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky finishing fourth. I am so excited to take Rolly to the London Paralympics as we bought her with the aim of taking her to London. It is wonderful to have fulfilled this dream as a combination.

What will you be doing in the lead up to the Olympics/Paralympics?

Training, training, training!! I train on Rolly five days a week. My off horse training involves two gym sessions per week, a pool session, recovery session and a pilates session each week. So I am kept very busy!

What are you most looking forward to about London?

The atmosphere! I think this Games will be one of the most exciting Olympics/Paralympics that an equestrian competitor can go to, and I am really looking forward to that!

Is there a particular song you like to listen to or movie you watch to get in the zone before a big competition?

Movie - Remember the Titans

Top tip for young riders keen to follow in your footsteps?

Follow your dreams, work hard and you can achieve anything!!!

Thank you so much for your time Grace! We wish you all the best in London and look forward to watching you and Rolly compete.

Over the last year, Grace has been involved in filming a documentary with the ABC. The doco 'Race to London' follows the lives of six athletes in the lead up to London. The athletes include Olympians Libby Trickett, Michael Klim and Drew Ginn and Paralympians Grace Bowman, Ryley Batt and Ahmed Kelly. The six part series first aired on ABC1 at 8pm on 19 June. Grace features in episodes 2 (26 June), 3 (3 July) and 6 (24 July). Each episode is available online for those who have missed out! www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/racetolondon.htm

Quick Links

• Visit Grace's website
• Read more about Grace at www.paralympic.org.au
• Read more about the Para-equestrian Team at www.equestrian.org.au