Five Minutes With... Paralympian - Jan Pike

Materic & Jan at Nationals last year - they are currently the Grade 1a National Champions.

Jan Pike is certainly an amazing lady.  An inspiration to all who know her, Jan has not let Cerebral Palsy get in the way of living a very full and productive life, which includes representing Australia at two Paralympics and winning a Silver and Bronze Medal!  The simple motto on Jan’s Website “Alone I stagger, together we glide...” says it all about this dedicated horsewoman.

In Jan’s own words, “I have lived for nearly 6 Decades with Cerebral Palsy Quadriplegia which affects my limbs, my speech, co-ordination, spine stability and mobility. God spared my intellect and gave me the ability to ride horses. I was a Rehabilitation Counsellor for many years and became a Regional Manager later in my career. I had to retire due to ill health and had to have a Stimulator Implant . Due to my cerebral palsy I have severe muscle spasms that are controlled by an electrode implanted in my brain, which is powered by a battery in my abdomen. I now regularly have my battery replaced-yep I’m the Eveready woman run by battery power! I am running in the Marriage Marathon with my husband Greg, of 36 years. He is a very patient man who recently suggested we exchange our front door for a revolving one, as I’m in and out so often. Our daughter Ebony, is a 12 yo Black Shepard X whom we both adore. Just a tad larger and I could use her to train on! When I’m out of the saddle I love reading, writing poetry/verse, gardening and mentoring/coaching young riders.”

Horsezone recently had the pleasure of catching up with Jan, who despite adversity has never lost sight of her dreams...

 

Jan, you obviously love horses and riding – when did you first become involved with Dressage?

At the age of 27 I ceased my life as a spectator of sport and became a participant. Until I began my riding career with Riding for the Disabled NSW my only outlet was as a Girl Guide Leader. In fact it was through my Guiding that I first heard of RDA Not long after I took up the challenge of hopping on a horse. The first time I sat in the saddle and experienced the freedom of movement I fell in love. Initially I was on a lead rope and my horse was led around the arena. A couple of years later I was set free and rode my horse by myself. Oh boy what a feeling, all that power under me, in my control-sometimes! For the first time in my life I could run and hold my head up when I walked. I had “normal” legs and what’s more FOUR of them. RDA NSW’s founder, Pearl Batchelor, introduced the concept of dressage into our RDA in the late 1980’s.  I fell in love with Dressage as I experienced the evolving partnership and rapport with my horse. It gave me the opportunity and it still does to show others how clever and astute my horse is. It also allows us to work as a team and develop our relationship.

I was riding with RDA till 1999 when I leased my first horse and began private lessons. During my years with RDA I competed at several National and State Championships. In 1999 I was identified as having Paralympic potential and was selected to the Paralympic Squad. I competed in Athens & Beijing Paralympics and Dr Doulittle and I won a Silver and a Bronze medal in Athens

My involvement with Dressage has allowed me to ride many different horses in many different countries around the world.

 

Jan's Coach, Catherine Shelley, warms up Pinky before Jan rides

What are the main challenges that you face with your riding career?

Finance is my biggest challenge as both my horses are in Victoria and I live in NSW, I travel down every three weeks to train for a week. Due to the degree of my disability I need a carer to accompany me which adds to the normal costs incurred. So we have costs of flights, car hire and access cabs to the airport. Competitions are also very expensive as I need to take a team of people including my carer, a groom and my coach. Other challenges include having an appropriate mounting ramp at the competition/training venue as this is the only safe way I can mount.  Often we’ll arrive at an event only to find the organisers have forgotten about the ramp and we have to “invent” some means of mounting. I can assure you some of these have been unusual to say the least. People don’t seem to appreciate how important an easy stress free mounting procedure is to my performance. Another problem is my reins.

 

Winning two Paralympic medals is a wonderful achievement – what has been your proudest moment so far with horses?

Sitting on my horse partner and watching the Australian flag raised at the Paralympic medal ceremony.

 

We hear there is a new horse in your life – can you tell us a bit about Pinky and why he’s perfect for you?

Oh my goodness where do I begin. Pinky is an ex-racehorse, who this time last year was racing in Victoria as a stallion. He won a few races in his time, but realised it wasn’t really his scene so was retired. My wonderful Coach, Catherine Shelley (of Melton Equestrian Academy) adopted Pinky, as she has done with many unwanted steeds. Catherine says when she first saw him she thought there was something special about him. I remember admiring him in his yard as he is a very striking horse. Once gelded, Catherine began riding Pinky and teaching him dressage. It is amazing to think Pinky has gone from being a racehorse to competing in Dressage, Jumping, Showing and Para Equestrian Dressage in such a short time. Catherine and her daughter compete regularly on him in Open competitions and he is winning the majority of the time. Pinky is 16.1hh, a beautiful grey with two very white socks. Apart from being a stunning horse to look at, more importantly he has a remarkable personality. He had only ever had able bodied riders on him before I rode him and yet he immediately coped with my very different riding style. Imagine going from agile Jockeys, competent well trained dressage riders to a rider with uneven balance, irregular movements and ambiguous aids. Pinky learnt quickly, didn’t overreact and just kept going. He is so light and forward he’s an absolute pleasure to ride. Pinky is a true gentleman, when I feed him a carrot he takes delicate bites and chews each one.  He has just learnt how to turn on my electric wheelchair and is rapt in the “goodie” bag I have on the back of the chair!

My other horse is Materic and horses like him and Pinky make an enormous difference to my life. They give me a physical freedom I can never achieve on my own. On my “boys” I can walk, run and dance. They don’t care what my voice sounds like or if I screw up my face when I communicate. My co-ordination is of no concern to them unless we’re doing a dressage test and they have to sort out my aids.

In my lifetime I have been blessed with many good friends, both human and equine. I reckon God has also put me in touch with some of His earthly Angels as well, both human and equine. Pinky is certainly one of the latter.

 

ex-racehorse Pinky and Jan are a match made in heaven!

How often are you able to ride and what is your training and competition program?

I travel to Victoria every three weeks and spend a week of intensive training at my Catherine’s property. Catherine and her family have opened their home to my carer and this is where we stay while I’m in Victoria. I ride twice a day usually Pinky in the morning and Materic in the afternoon.  The problem is they are such different horses requiring totally different riding styles that I’m really having to work extra hard at adapting my technique for each one.  As I’ve been selected on Materic to the National A Squad I must keep riding him until I ride Pinky before the Selectors.

I try to compete as much as possible, however many of the Dressage clubs are unwilling to include Para Equestrian tests in their programmes. Pinky and I competed in the Royal Melbourne Horse Show in January in the RDA Classes. We had THE best time, it was my first time “out” on Pinky and he was wonderful. I had never done showing before so it was a very new experience, Pinky was so good and we ended up with two firsts and a second.

 

What are your current competitive goals?

Pinky, Mat and I will be competing in a selection event at Werribee in April at the Young Riders’ Championships.  We then have further selection events in July in Sydney and in December at Werribee. In between these events will be State Championships and hopefully local events.

My long term, although not that long anymore, goal is to represent Australia at the 2012 Paralympics in London.

 

Is there anything people can do to help you achieve this wonderful goal?

I have overcome many challenges in my journey, both physically and emotionally to achieve my goals. I have been fortunate with the generosity of some very good friends and have organised fund raisers to obtain funds. I am also grateful to the sponsors that I have for without them I wouldn’t be able to do what I am currently. I am seriously concerned that my dream is fading as more and more money is needed to undertake my training and competition requirements. I need a sponsor for horse feed, and travelling expenses, I also need a new electric wheelchair.  Just knowing that Australians are behind us is a fantastic moral booster so lots of positive thoughts and good wishes certainly help.

The Melton Equestrian Academy “Calendar Girls” released a two year calendar at the end of last year . It is truly a work of art featuring Coaches, volunteers and of course horses in very discreet poses (see YouTube clip below). It is on sale for $20 and has an accompanying CD for $10 featuring Buddy England. The money raised from these sales goes into my training fund.

 

Thank you so much for your time, Jan and we wish you all the best with your journey to the 2012 Paralympics.

 

PS:  After our interview Jan emailed us with great news, "just got a letter from the APC to say I’ve been selected onto the Paralympic Shadow Squad for London Paralympics.  Am just a tad excited!!" You go girl!

 

If anyone would like to order the calendars (check out preview below!), assist with Jan's preparation for London, or simply send your best wishes, please email Jan at gpik0206@bigpond.net.au.