Australian paralympian Emma Booth has received the ride on two of Maree Tomkinson's dressage horses in an attempt to qualify for the 2022 World Championships Para Dressage in Herning this summer.
Booth, who became paraplegic in a car accident in 2013, lost her top horse Mogelvangs Zidane in March this year when the 20-year old Danish warmblood gelding succumbed to a seizure. The pair represented Australia at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in Grade II, where they were 13th and 5th. They moved to Grade III and went the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Caen, where they were 4th and 5th. At the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo, they placed 11th in the team test and 5th in the Freestyle at Grade III.
Booth travelled to Germany to Maree Tomkinson's new base in Krefeld, to try out a new para partner and did not find her luck in one, but two horses!
"An incredible opportunity presented itself and I’m so glad I said yes," Booth explained. "I am campaigning for the World Championships on two of Maree Tomkinson’s extremely beautiful and talented horses, Friday IV and Furst Deluxe."
Friday V is Maree's 6-year old home bred Hanoverian by Furstenball out of Diamantina (by Diamond Hit), which she competed at the 2021 World Young Horse Championships in Verden and co-owns with Lyn and Mark Sultana. Furst Deluxe is a 9-year old by Furstenball x Rosario.
"I’m enjoying the journey and pinching myself that I’m over here," said Emma. "I can’t thank Maree enough for this life changing opportunity, or Paige Drake for dropping everything to come over and help me."
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