Sponsored Riders
Lee Pearson
INTERVIEW
Lee Pearson is the most successful para-dressage rider in the World having won a grand total of 28 Gold medals since embarking on his professional dressage career back in 1998. Lee is also the World’s most successful Equestrian Paralympian with nine Gold medals under his belt having won three medals at each of the following Paralympic Games; the 2000 Sydney Games, the 2004 Athens Games and the 2008 Beijing Games.
This contribution to equestrianism has not gone unnoticed and following the Sydney Games, Lee was awarded an MBE in 2001. This has since been followed by an OBE in 2005 after the Athens Games and a CBE in 2009 after the Beijing Games with each New Year’s Honour preceding the one before, meaning that Lee is currently Lee Pearson CBE. Lee is incredibly proud of what he has achieved so far: “When I look at what I’ve achieved, it is surreal to say the least. I tried doing a 9-5 job for a bit, but I am driven by being a horseman; I love horses and I love showing my horses talent off. I am lucky that I love my talent and that my talent has opened up so many opportunities, but really what I want to do is just do my best and produce my horses as best as I possibly can.”
Lee's passion & talent has helped him to become the most renowned Para-Dressage rider of our time
Lee was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a condition which means that the muscles in Lee’s arms and legs did not grow correctly. Lee had numerous operations as a child and even now, he does not have mobility in his ankles and knees and he has restricted movement in all of his other limbs. Lee’s passion for horses was evident from a very young age and he first started riding at age eight. Lee’s first equine was actually a donkey called Sally and for Lee it was the “freedom, movement, energy” that riding gave him that has provided him with his drive and love for dressage.
Aside from Lee’s para-dressage career, he also competes in able-bodied competitions up to Prix St Georges level and Lee was the first ever disabled rider to win a National Championship – this was back in 2003 when Lee won the Elementary Restricted National Championship on Blue Circle Boy.
Going for Gold
With the London 2012 Games looming, Lee’s aim is to defend his title and achieve a further three Gold medals, which will take him to a total of 12 medals in 2012: “Obviously 2012 has the potential to be a big year for me and it would mean so much to be selected. However, this also comes with great expectation and I will make sure that I do my best. I have a great team behind me, but there’s an element that needs Lady Luck to shine down on me too.
“I am passionate about finding a horse that has a huge elegant walk and a rhythmical, correct trot, so if anyone has one of these – let me know, because I would love to ride it!!”
