Para Dressage
For a few years Nathalie has been offering courses for training aimed at Para-equestrian.
Para is a diminutive for parallel and not for paraplegic.
Para-dressage is a discipline parallel to dressage. Athletes must climb into a dressage career on their own and perform a series of merry-go-round tricks called a retake.
Here is a short text to learn more about Nathalie's journey
For the past few years Nathalie has been offering courses for Para-Equestrian training.
Para is a diminutive for parallel and not paraplegic.
Para-dressage is a discipline parallel to dressage. Athletes must ride alone in a dressage ring and perform a serie of movement with the horse called dressage test.
Here is a short text to learn more about Nathalie's journey
How did you get involved in para-equestrian?
I started my adventure in Para dressage with a new student who came to dressage des Roses in 2016. At the very beginning this rider came as a boarder and a student at the stable to learn dressage. She was visually impaired but was not yet eligible for para. After two years of competition, she finally had her classification in para dressage in grade V.
At the very beginning I did not know para-dressage but I was very interested and curious to learn new things. During a clinic in Toronto, I got to know the entire para-dressage canada team. I was immediately impressed by the skills of the riders despite their physical condition. Clive, the head coach of the team was the conductor of the clinic. I found it amazing to see Clive in action, he managed to bring out the best in each rider.
Since then Clive has come to do Clinics 3 times at my stable in Quebec. I now work with several riders who come from Ontario and all over Quebec.
I was invited in 2019 on a trip to Holland to see a European Championship. I feel extremely privileged to have been chosen by Equine Canada for this wonderful experience. For me this trip was so inspiring and educational, I got to watch the best in the world compete.
I love Para because for a classic trainer, I have always been taught helpers; does this, the horse will do that etc ... But in the para these barriers are not at all suitable. The coach must be inventive and creative and have confidence in the abilities of his athlete to find their unique way of doing the movement. Each athlete is unique. Para-dressage allowed me to learn about myself, to be in a way a better trainer. The Para has pushed all the barriers and obligations that are so present in dressage!
How did you get involved in para?
I had a rider that was a able body rider at first when she came as a boarder at my barn. She was visually impaired but was not eligible at first in the para. After two years coaching and showing in able body competition she finally got her classification in grade V.
At first I didn't know nothing about para but I am very curious and willing to learn new things. I met the paraequestrian team at a clinic in Toronto. I was really curious about how clive was coaching, and as i'm not a therapeutic coach I was amazed by the ablilities of the riders. And I was impressed to see the athletes and how Clive was coaching and managing to get the best of everyone.
Since then Clive came 3 time for clinics at my barn, i'm working with new athletes from Quebec and Ontarion.
I've been invited in 2019 in holland, to see the European Championship. Equine Canada invited some coach for a learning experience. This experience was breathtaken and so inspiring.
I love the para world because for a classical coach we have been thaught aids to make the horse do some things. But in the para world all of these procedure and kind of 'do this and do that' is not working. The coach has to work with his creativity and be confident in the rider abilities to find their unique way to the movement. Every athlete is unique. Para-dressage made me a better coach, pushed all the boundaries and the obligations that normaly exist in the dressage world.
