Disabled equestrian talks about shifting from Olympics to Paralympics

From The Edmonton Journal in Canada, which had a very problematic headline on this story: "Love of riding overpowered fear for crippled equestrian."

Karen Brain cried tears of joy during a speech Nov. 9 about her love for horses and horseback riding to 4-H members and their families at Farmfair International.

But there was a point in her life when she says a million dollars wouldn't have tempted her to get back on a horse.

Brain began riding when she was eight and vowed to one day go to the Olympics and win a gold medal. She quickly rose to the top, representing Canada at the World Equestrian Games and at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. But after her horse threw her and fell on her in 2001, Brain was left partially paralyzed from the waist down. Moving her pinky toe or ankle a few millimetres was cause for celebration, she said.

After two weeks in the hospital, she decided she would adjust her goal and set her sights on competing in dressage at the Paralympics.

"When I was first hurt, I was so broken and afraid to get re-hurt that the first three months I didn't want to get on a horse," she said.

After she watched a friend's riding lesson one day, however, her love for riding finally overpowered her fear.

"I watched her jump, and it was the first twinge that I knew I wanted to ride again," she said.

After six months of therapy and rehabilitation, the doctor gave her permission to ride again.

"I expected it to be this great euphoric moment ... and it wasn't," she said.

She had only a fraction of the strength in her lower body she'd had before the accident. Riding was not only painful, but frustrating.

"I basically said, 'OK, you used to be pretty good at this, you used to be pretty competent, and basically now you suck. You just have a long, long ways to go.'So it wasn't a triumphant moment."

She practised every day with the same energy and drive she'd had before her accident. She went on to win two bronze medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, and represented Canada at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Hong Kong.

Brain is one of the few athletes to have competed in both the Olympics and Paralympics. She said her riding career is far from over, and she still has that gold medal in mind.

Brain plans to compete in para-dressage at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky next year and in the 2012 Paralympics. She also hopes to one day ride on the Canadian dressage team with able-bodied riders.

"I'm just thinking the world is my oyster. Have it all. Don't limit yourself to one or the other. Just go out there and do whatever you want to do."