Wonderful Waikiwi - Helping Make Dreams Come True!

When 19 year old Hannah Dodd and Warmblood mare Waikiwi took their first steps in a competitive dressage test together, at the recent RDA State Dressage Championships, Hannah couldn't have been happier to be riding this wonderful horse! 

Hannah, a dedicated equestrian athlete, who was born with Sacral Ageneisis - a rare genetic abnormality - competes in Grade 4 Para-equestrian dressage and with the help of Waikiwi and dear friends 24 year old Tori and her mum Anne McBeath, she's discovering that maybe dreams really can come true.

When Arcadia NSW based Hannah discovered the New Zealand Champion Dressage horse for sale on Horsezone, she instinctively felt this was the horse for her, but how would they ever get the chance to meet, let alone train and compete together?

This is where Anne McBeath of Durham Park Stud stepped in, determined that Waikiwi and Hannah would not only meet, but if they were compatible, would follow the campaign trail towards London 2012 together!

Rewind to the trials for 2010 para-equestrian WEG selection, where Hannah rode a horse of Tori's, WB Kaspereit.  Hannah was very grateful for the opportunity to ride this lovely horse but both girls knew she wouldn't make it to the top of the sport unless she had a horse that was educated to a higher level.

Tori and Hannah, who only live a couple of streets apart, soon became firm friends and it was seeing Hannah's dedication to her riding and determination to do well, despite her disability, that made Anne McBeath decide to look at buying a top horse for the girls to share - Hannah to ride in para equestrian events and Tori to utilise as a school master and compete in open competitions.

So the search began and Hannah spotted Waikiwi on Horsezone, liked what she saw and after showing the advertisement to Anne and Tori, they both agreed the horse sounded perfect!

Soon Hannah, the McBeath's and their trainer Peter Turner, were making the trip to New Zealand to visit Waikiwi and her then owner, Olympic Dressage Rider, Kallista Field.

They trialed Waikiwi for two days and Hannah and the mare bonded immediately.  A vet check was conducted and all was well, so in a process that only took a week, to everyone's excitement, it was decided that Waikiwi would come to Australia!

The flight to Australia proved hassle free for the cool Waikiwi and she quickly settled into life at Durham Stud.  "Waikiwi's definitely the boss with other horses", says Tori, an Equine Science student, "she has a lot of personality and is lovely to have around!  We're all enjoying her being here."

Both Tori and Hannah have been training regularly on Waikiwi with Peter Turner since her arrival and couldn't be happier with their horse.

At the moment Tori is stepping back from riding the mare and is acting as support crew, due to Hannah and Waikiwi's intense training and competition schedule, leading up to the first Paralympic Selection Trial being held in Tamworth this week.  If Hannah and Waikiwi are fortunate enough to be chosen for London, both Hannah and Tori will be going to the UK to prepare for the Paralympics and Tori will be Hannah's most stalwart supporter during the competition!