MY pony Mossy is a quirky 13-year-old Lipizzaner gelding from Hungary. Initially, he suffered from recurrent inflammation in one eye, which hindered his ability to live a normal life tremendously. The decision to remove the eye was a turning point for Mossy and has greatly improved his comfort and quality of life.

Mossy’s limited vision has meant that he is more reliant on me, but this has led to strengthened trust in each other. When I compare pictures from when we first started together to now, the change in Mossy’s posture from reticence to confidence is noticeable.

Initially, while driving on the road or navigating a competition course, Mossy would rely on me for guidance, checking in with me every few seconds. But as we have progressed, he has started to press ahead with his ears forward, only occasionally looking back to check in with me.

Working with Mossy has also been a steep learning curve for me as I’ve had to be more mindful of his limited depth perception. I now give him more time to observe new surroundings, and after a few snorts and approximately 30 seconds, he just adjusts and moves on. We have certainly come a long way together.

Many people, including members of my own family, wondered if I would get back to riding after my accident. For me there was no doubt that I would. For me it’s the horses themselves and just the feeling of being around them that make me happy. I know that I would not be living a full life if I wasn’t with horses and something would be missing.

There’s also the adrenaline that comes from working together with the horse, especially when you’re training for competition. When it all starts to come together, there isn’t any other feeling like it. There are those days where it just seems like Mossy does everything I ask him to do. I know that he’s in ‘the zone’, receiving and acting on everything that I’m asking of him.

I think that’s the feeling everybody is chasing. It’s that synergy between your inherent personality and your horse’s, combining your respective abilities to be the best you can be together.

And when everything falls into place, it’s just right and it is the most freeing, exhilarating, satisfying experience. But you don’t always get it. Most days, it’s just hard work, but you keep chasing those moments where it all comes together and there’s that telepathic connection between you and your horse.

In international Para Driving, the dressage test is the same for both grades of para drivers but the maximum number of obstacles for Para drivers in FEI events is six, whereas able-bodied drivers may have up to eight, depending on their level. The cones course for para and able bodies classes in international competitions are usually similar, but speeds differ with para drivers having more time to complete the course.

At the national level in Ireland, I’m currently the only para driver competing in the full marathon. There are para drivers with miniature horses but they complete a shorter version of the course as the horses are below the height requirement for an FEI competition. Due to the limited number of para drivers in Ireland and the UK, we do not have separate competition classes. Consequently, I compete against able-bodied drivers, which challenges and improves my skills as a competitor. The presence of more competitors always enhances the competitive experience.