Laura Goldman: The post Games followup :-)

"A lot of people think disabled people ride like a sack of potatoes."

                  Laura Goldman 

This is a lady that doesn't mince words :-).

I'm just in awe of Laura Goldman (LG). LG is the para dressage rider who I learned of through Sheri "Dressagemom.com" Israel. Sheri interviewed LG this summer as she prepped to go to the World Equestrian Games, and a number of us blogged about her last month.

Thought I'd do a post-WEG followup! At WEG, LG  gave a number of gracious, charming interviews that highlighted the importance of para dressage as a sport. Congrats to Laura on her great performance overall and particularly her score of 69.9% and her fourth place finish in the Individual Championship Test.

If you haven't smiled lately, read the LG interviews -- they're a hoot!

clipped from www.horsechannel.com

“I thought it was OK. I tried to be accurate,” said Laura. “I hope my ride will help our team. This horse is fantastic and my coach is wonderful! This horse is going to get a whole bag of carrots when I get back the barn.

“I hope this sport grows in this country and I hope we get as good as the Europeans. I know that we can do it.”

“I know Laura was nervous,” said Chef d’ Equipe Missy Ransehousen. “But I think she did a great job!”

When I first started riding, there were many trainers who said it wasn’t going to happen,” admitted Laura. “It was difficult to get people to work with me outside of therapy. A lot of people think disabled people ride like a sack of potatoes and it’s just not true.

I found a trainer who treated me like the rest of the folks. She said ‘If you can trot around the arena twice, I’ll coach you.’ Well, I trotted around six times!”

Laura has only been riding JD since the end of May.

clipped from www.equestrian.com.my

America's Laura Goldman courageously controlled her nerve to slot into third. "I've got to tell you, I was scared!" said the US rider afterwards. "I'm amazed at myself. It's because my horse is fantastic, without him I couldn't do it. And my coach is really on the ball. I hope the sport grows in this this country and we get as strong as the Europeans" she added, now bursting with confidence.

clipped from www.usef.org

Laura Goldman and Trudy Phillips' Carlingford JD were next in the ring for the U.S. On the strength of a precisely ridden test and well-shaped circles and serpentines, the pair scored a 68.706% in the Grade Ia team test, earning an individual third place finish.

"I amazed myself," said Goldman. "This horse is fantastic. Without all these folks with the para movement I couldn't have done it."

clipped from www.horsechannel.com

“I did what I had to do to keep myself from falling off,” says Goldman, who for years has been in a therapeutic riding program. “I stayed on and I finished the test.” Staying on was not easy as her mount, Trudy Phillip’s striking 11-year-old black and white skewbald Irish Sport Horse gelding, Carlingford JD, opted to finish the test at a trot instead of the prescribed walking pace.

“He’s Irish,” said Goldman, “and he has a mind of his own.” When he’s not competing in para, JD is a Prix St. Georges-level dressage horse.

Goldman also took time to explain some special equipment she uses to ride JD. Para-riders are allowed to use “dispensation aids” to help them perform the movements required in a dressage test. “I use a neck brace,” she explained, “as well as a neck strap that I can grab if necessary, and I have something in my boots for extra support.” She also had custom ladder-shaped reins that help her grip with limited hand strength.