Dressage rider who has MS qualifies for 2012 Olympics

[doublevision1]

WELLINGTON, Fla. - Mary Jordan has been competing in para-equestrian dressage for the last three years.  
  
"It's one of the eight international FEI disciplines that you would find at the Olympic games," said Mary.
  
Judges look for several key components during competitions.  

"Conditioning of the horse, fitness of the horse, fitness of the rider, and then making the accuracy of the test so that there are no mistakes or as little as possible," said her coach Missy Rasenhousen.

Mary suffers from multiple sclerosis.  

"I was diagnosed with MS ten years ago," she said. "I'm the third person in my family with MS."

Some days are better the others. Through it all, her motivation comes from those who she holds dearest.  

"There hasn't been a day in my life that there has never been MS. My dad was a quadriplegic that I never saw stand or walk," she said.  

Mary is hoping to inspire others to live out their dreams. She not only competes for people suffering from multiple sclerosis, but also for her 15-year-old son, Tristan.  

"I wanted to show him what a person in 2012 can do with MS," said Mary. "We take it day by day, and step by step."  

This past weekend in Wellington, Mary qualified for the 2012 Olympic games for para-equestrian dressage.

By: Jason Pugh


Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/sports/dressage-rider-mary-jordan-who-has-multiple-sclerosis-qualifies-for-2012-olympic-games#ixzz1lLNpwy00

[Lulu54]

I am thinking I saw her speak when I was just newly diagnosed.  She may be one of the Shared Solutions speakers.  I hope Alex and Mary see this note - they are both serious horse people.

[jenphilly]

I had not seen this announcement!  

Riding is excellent for MS...  my daughter has been volunteering at a local therapuetic riding program for a while (before MS became a known part of our lives).   We have horses ourselves, tho I no longer have my own.  But, she has been bugging me about riding again, even just in the therapeutic program.  My daughter's horses are more then what I am comfortable with, her QH loves to see if you're paying attention :)   But, a sweet lesson horse could be my best friend.   Its great for balance and honestly if you ride in an English saddle, you will work leg muscles you did not know you had :)

Thanks again for posting and hope this encourages other to consider getting in the saddle.   Even out of the saddle, always said there is not much that ails the soul that time with a horse won't help....  

Glad you posted, reminds me I need to make the call and setup for a weekly class :)

Jen