Former Bega horse rider Katie Umback will fulfil her dream of competing in the Rio Olympics.
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Umback was one of just four riders named in the Australian para-equestrian team to compete in Rio on Tuesday.
The selection is the realisation of a dream for Umback, who was sidelined from riding for seven years after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) a decade ago.
Umback said the selection was even more important to her, given the nature of MS.
“Making it to the pinnacle of my sport has been a dream since I first began riding. A future being as able as I am is uncertain; it means a lot to me to achieve my goals before my disease catches up to me,” she told the Australian Paralympic committee.
Kate McLoughlin, Chef de Mission of the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team hopes the tally will continue to grow in Rio.
“We’ve got high hopes that Sharon, Emma, Katie and Lisa can enhance our country’s record of success in Para-equestrian,” McLoughlin said.
It’s been a three-year road for Umback to reach her current form, with new medication and chemotherapy treatment.
However, she suffers numbness in 70 per cent of her body and has had to teach herself how to ride again.
“Riding as I knew it was all very different though,” Umback said.
“My body didn’t work like it used to.
“It was a frustrating struggle for the first 12 months, but since I have learned how to improvise with my disabilities, I haven’t looked back,” she said.
Working with a new horse, a Danish warmblood gelding Gronskovlunds Marquis, Umback has gone above and beyond her expectations, reaching the top of her class in Australia.
Recent success at the Sydney Concours de Dressage International netted her an invite to compete in England for the CEPDI grade 3 event.
Recently she travelled to Europe to try a few horses that a friend in Holland had lined up for her to ride in Hartpury and Ms Umback met Arwen.
“She was perfect and I clicked with her straight away,” she said.
“I didn’t even bother trying the other horses."
Ms Umback had five rides on Arwen before she came home and has since returned to Europe for 10 days of training before she heads to Hartpury.
There she will compete in three dressage tests that will be a fantastic lead-up to the Rio Games next year.
“The European riders are the best in the world and are the current world champions,” she said.
“I will definitely have my work cut out for me.”
If Ms Umback can place in the top 10 placing’s, it will rank her in the top 10 riders in the world for her grade.
She said she would be working hard with Arwen and her trainer, fellow Aussie Tristan Tucker, to see if she can match it on the world stage ahead of the games.