Para-Riders Take the Stage for the First Time at Equitana (Part 2)

In part two of a 4-part series, we interview our next Para-Rider Matilda Carnegie, who will be featured at Equitana 2018, the first year Para-Equestrian has ever been featured at the event.

Matilda “Tilda” is a 20-year-old who has been riding for 11 years. She is a Grade 4 Para-Equestrian rider who suffers from Macrodactyly, which is a very rare form of overgrown club foot. At it’s worse the right foot was 5x bigger than the left. Five surgeries have been performed to rectify this, but at the cost of leaving Matilda with only half of her foot.

Matilda also has Dystonia, which when she was younger, induced 20-30-minute-long seizures and forced her back into an arch. A lot of therapy has helped with this, but some of the effects remain, especially within the neuropathways affecting her back and coordination. Matilda was also born profoundly deaf and is a cochlear implant user – which is not classifiable for Para-Equestrian, but a testament to her willingness to follow her passion despite the challenges life has thrown at her.

She is an up and coming Para-Rider, with aims of competing in Tokyo 2020 and beyond.

“Your horse is only going to be as good as you are as a rider... you might be able to out-horse someone, but it doesn’t mean that you can outride them.”

What got you into horses?

Tilda: I was in England with my cousin and she had a pony called Friday. I went and visited the pony with her and rode and brushed him. My auntie suggested to my mum that I should get lessons; I didn’t want to initially, but Mum was like “well what do you have to lose darling?” So figured I may as well give it a go and the rest as they say is history. 

How Often do you ride?

Tilda: 4x a week, 2-3 horses day, unless I have uni assignments on.

Tell me about your horse – name, age, breed, quirks and how you found each other?

Tilda: Tilly is a 16.3hh 14-year-old stationbred (yep you read that right) mare, who I imported from NZ. We found her at Vanessa Way’s lovely property and bought her off a lovely young rider, where she was virtually unbeatable in CDI-Ys and small tour. They say that a mare chooses her rider; I was scratching Tilly on the rump when I met her, as I figured that was her favourite spot, she wouldn’t let me stop and almost tried to sit in my lap, so I kinda feel like she chose me in that moment. I hadn’t been looking for long, so was super surprised to find something so quickly. But by the second ride, I knew she was the one. To ride she has no quirks and is an absolute angel. However, she is a text-book mare, so you have to ask her nicely and give her the respect she deserves, she can get ‘marey’ towards other horses. Let’s just say her grumpy mare face is rather iconic.

What are your goals (short or long term)?  

Tilda: To be the best rider I can be. Short-term I’d like to do a PSG and keep improving in my para tests and avoid staying at the same standard. Long-term Tokyo Paralympics and ride & train a horse to Grand Prix... achieving these two things would be amazing.

What advice would you give your younger self if you could go back in time?

Tilda: Honestly so much advice I’d give my younger self, but I’ll narrow it down these three:

-Your horse is only going to be as good as you are as a rider... you might be able to out-horse someone, but it doesn’t mean that you can outride them.

-You can do everything, just not all at once. Good advice for anyone who studies, works and doesn’t do just horses.

-Make sure your goals are your goals, as ultimately they have to have meaning for you, not someone else. The people who matter don’t mind and the people who mind don’t matter!

Buy your Equitana tickets now at https://www.equitana.com.au/ticketing