I’ve only known Sharon a short time and one thing that’s obvious is that she’s a quiet achiever. She has a caring heart and determination to last miles. Sharon is always finding ways to help fellow equestrians. She’s overcome many obstacles and is now a Para-athlete as well as a Paralympian.
Sharon can you tell the readers a bit about yourself, where you grew up etc…
I grew up and still call home in the country in South West of WA, in a place called Donnybrook. Donnybrook is a fruit growing region, our family farm is 500 acres of a mixed farming enterprise with 70 acres of that under orchard. My father was very involved in the Apple Industry in Australia, with the development of and export of the Pink Lady apple in particular. We also produced cattle for the meat industry. After the sudden death of my father in 2009, my brother has stepped up running the property with my Mother, and the farm now is fully certified organic, and now also produces Free Range Eggs for local market.
Although neither of my parents rode horses I was born with the horse bug, and by the time I was nearly 5 years old my parents had given in to my pleas for a pony, and my first pony was purchased. A 10.3hh pinto Australian Pony who bucked every time he cantered. I had some pretty good flying lessons early on. My brother and sister had started riding, so all 3 of us would go off to the local Pony Club with Dad driving the farm truck with the cattle crate on the back with our ponies in it. We really had no idea about much and were completely guided by the local Pony Club.
I started competing at some local competitions. When I was 7 yrs old I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Bone Cancer in my left Femur, know as a Ewing’s Sarcoma. It was a cancer usually found in teenage boys. My parents were originally given the prognosis that I had about 3 months to live and a 20% chance of survival. My parents were incredible and they actually chose not to tell me the odds, they chose to stay positive and carry on with a regime of Chemo and Radiotherapy and told me to focus on getting well again. It became my job to get well. I was lucky that we were under a very good Paediatric Oncologist in WA, and they took my case to the Head of Paediatric Oncology in the US to ask for advice. Usually this type of cancer leads to amputation of the affected limb. Because of the place of the tumour, this would have meant that I would have lost my hip as well, and then attaching a prothesis would have been difficult in those days, so experimental Limb Salvage surgery was done to save my leg. This means that I can walk but it lacks strength, flexibility and is shorter than my other leg. We have had several complications with it over the years, but we just take it as it comes.
The worst part for me was that the doctors would not let me ride for the next 6 years, and in the end my parents sold my pony so I would not go out in the paddock and try and get on when no one was watching! My parents were good to me, they let me try many other sports, netball, basketball, tennis, but they all involved running and I couldn’t run so I was useless so in the end gave up. The only sport I was good at was swimming because I could use my upper body strength to pull me along.
The desire to ride again never left me so when I was allowed, there was no stopping me. School was definitely not my favourite time of my life, dealing with bullies, so when I could ride again I just completely immersed myself. After I finished school I worked on the farm and built up a business doing horses, starting ponies and establishing a small riding school and agistment, as well as breeding sports ponies. Ponies were my interest as I was actually scared to ride big horses as I had a fear of breaking my bad leg. Eventually I got over that. Going through pony club I did anything and everything, games, jumping, eventing. I ended up specialising in Showing and producing ponies, it allowed me to be successful. One day I had a ride on my coach’s Dressage horse, and I felt what a ‘Real’ Dressage Horse should feel like, it was then that I knew I had to have a go at Dressage. Needing to buy a schoolmaster to learn how to do it, we did what you should not do, we bought the freshly broken in 3 yr old! 6 years later I could finally score 60% in a medium test!
I only ever competed in open able bodied competition until I was approached to compete in Para Equestrian in 2006. I had to be convinced that I was eligible, I did not understand the classification process and I was completely mortified that other people saw me as having a disability, as I did not see it myself. I was shocked that I was not even in the least disabled grade. Para Equestrian athletes are classified into 5 grades according to degree of disability, grade 1 most disabled to grade 5 least disabled, I am a classified grade 4 rider. Once I was classified, the journey has been crazy and a bit of a whirlwind. A year later I competed at the World Championships in Hartpury England riding a borrowed horse getting a 6th and 8th place, the next year I did my first Paralympics coming 4th 5th and 7th and then 2 years later coming home from World Equestrian Games, Kentucky USA as a dual Bronze Medallist was a dream come true.
You have been to 2 Paralympic Games, can you tell us some of your highlights and what the overall experience was like?
I competed at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Paralympics. Each Games provides a different experience. Each has its highs and lows. There really is nothing else that matches a Games experience. At the first Games I really did not know what to expect. I honestly thought the Paralympics would just have the leftovers of what the Olympics had. I was so very wrong. The Paralympics was not a left overs event, everything was put on with pomp and ceremony. It was such a special feeling knowing it was all put on for us. To be honest I was a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing. For Beijing the Equestrian events took place in Hong Kong, away from the main games in Beijing, the facilities were phenomenal, it felt like we were at a big horse show. In the Individual Championship Test, I came the worst place possible, 4th. I had sat in Bronze medal position until the last rider went and they beat me by less then a %. It was devastating, so close, yet so far. But it really put the fire in my belly to go again! After our events finished we got to go to Beijing and be apart of the whole Australian team in the Athletes village. The feeling of this was incredible. I just remember having the feeling that I fitted in, my disability was insignificant, I was normal in there. It made me desperate to be a part of it again.
I missed London in 2012 due to injury to my horse and I made the decision to retire him from competition. It was a hard road to try and get to Rio. I didn’t have the funds to just buy another horse, so I had to rely on the generosity of others to help purchase a potential horse. Then when I had just started competing my new horse for the first time a week after our first event, I broke my bad leg and ended up having 3 months off riding and having to have major surgery just 6 weeks before the first selection event for Rio. That was one crazy adventure! And no the break was not caused by a horse, I was standing coaching!
Going into Rio I had a much better understanding of what to expect at a games. And I think as an outcome of this I could be in the moment and enjoy the time a bit more. It was a bit crazy and the Games taking place in a third world country was a bit of a cultural shock, but the games atmosphere is really special, and again to feel like I belonged was special. The competition for me did not pan out exactly as I had hoped, and that had its own adventures, but then that’s Games for you. I can honestly say it was still overall my favourite games to go to. And again the fire is still in my belly to go again.
What has been your most challenging horse so far that you’ve owned or ridden, and have they taught anything?
I am grateful for all the horses I have ridden over time. I think each horse as the ability to teach you something. I have not always had the easiest of horses, most of them have had their quirks. But if you are able to work with these, then you can bring out the best of you as a combination. I do think that Ceasy who I campaigned for the Rio Paralympics and WEG 2018, and represented Australia at Rio, has been one of the trickiest horses I have had, she is very talented but unfortunately can be very insecure within herself. I am not sure if I will ever ride another horse as talented and powerful as she is, she taught me a huge amount about remaining calm no matter the situation and being very methodical in everything you do in preparation. She has now produced her first foal and is being the best mother ever. She is in foal again this season. I am considering riding her again when I return to WA, no expectations, just enjoy her for who she is. We will see.
You are an advocate for Sarcoma Cancer. How’s that experience affected you, and do you think you have inspired others to try their best every day no matter their outcome?
I am an Ambassador for the Sock it to Sarcoma! Charity. I find this a very special thing to be a part of. The charity was the brain child of Abbie Basson. Abbie had Ewing’s Sarcoma, the same as what I had had. Abbie’s vision was to create awareness and funding for research of Sarcoma Cancers, as it is a cancer that receives very little funding, about 1% in the scheme of things, yet it accounts for 15-20% of childhood and young adult cancers. Abbie passed away before her dream was realised. Abbie’s Mum Mandy has taken on Abbie’s Dream, and the Charity is thriving with many fundraising events and research projects taking place. To be a small part of this is very special and if it encourages someone to go to the doctor and ask about a pain or lump in their body that won’t go away, and keeps them awake at night or ask for a second opinion, and possibly get an early diagnosis, then that is what it is all about.
I personally don’t feel I am an inspiration, especially when some days I struggle to get out of bed. But if someone can look at what I have managed to do with what I have had and that inspires them to give something a go, or to push harder to follow a dream, then that is great. I know I draw from others that I feel are an inspiration to me, many of them my fellow riders.
You work in the disability health care sector, can you tell us more how you balance your time working and riding horses?
I am really grateful for the job that enables me to stay based in the east away from home in the lead up to Tokyo. Because I decided that it would be best to stay based at Ryans to try for Tokyo, I needed to be able to work in a job that was not going to kill me physically, so finding a job doing Disability Support in Supported Independent Living Houses in Newcastle was ideal. I have an interest in Disability, I love seeing people achieve things so I really enjoy my job. The company I work for have been really good to work in with my training and competition requirements. Most of the shifts I work are the afternoon/evenings, this allows me time for training and physio appointments in the morning. They are also good at working in with my physical needs.
The 2020 Paralympics have been pushed back to next year, 2021 due to the COVID-19. What are your hopes in regards to the games ( good and bad )?
It is all a bit crazy really. No one ever predicted this! I really have a lot of mixed feelings around this. When it was first announced my first thought went to if I would still have a horse. My horse Romanos is owned by Donnella Merrit in Queensland, he is on loan purely for the purpose of competing at Tokyo. So he was to be returned after Tokyo this year, so the first thing I had to do was to make sure I was able to keep him for another year, other wise my Tokyo dream could have been over straight away. Gratefully I am able to keep him the extra year. As he is an older horse I have to be mindful that he now has to stay fit and healthy for an extra year at the top of the game, so his management and health and fitness is always at the front of my mind. The positives that I try and draw from the situation is that I have an extra year to develop our partnership. I am really loving my riding at the moment so just making the most of all the training opportunities.
I had planned to return home to WA after the Games this year and this has now obviously been postponed, so now just trying to make the most of the opportunities that present over the next year. An extra year to train under Rozzie would have to be one of the best things to have come out of it.
As time goes on, and the WA government still have the hard boarder closures in place, it does make me a bit more uneasy. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Premier has done a super job looking after the state, but I hate not knowing when I will be able to get to see my family again in the flesh, and I just hope and pray nothing happens at home that I need to get back for. I have never missed home and my family as much as I miss them now.
Rozzie Ryan is your coach and friend, you have been under her teaching for 11 years. In your opinion, what makes her a great coach, and does she have a clear understanding of how your disability affects you?
Rozzie is amazing! She is someone who I admired as a rider for a long time. It was a dream come true when I had my first lesson with her in September 2009. I was too shy to ask her myself so a mutual friend through the Double Dans asked for me if she would coach me. I love that Rozzie has so much experience, she hasn’t just produced 1 horse through the levels, she has produced, many, many all the way. Not only that she has done it with many types of horses, and not always the best or easiest ones. Rozzie knows what it is like to work hard for what you want to achieve, she has really done the hard yards herself. Rozzie is honest, she will say how hard it is, and she will also not let you get away with things; she expects you to work hard too. I appreciate this in a person. The other added bonus is that she has been on Australian teams so knows what it is truly like at the High Performance end of the sport. I think this added element is essential to be able to perform when it matters. I have a lot of respect for Rozzie. Rozzie allows me to monitor and manage my own body with it’s disability. Over time Rozzie has got to know me, and can now see if I am fatigued, sore or having a bad day, but not much is said about it, it’s just a recognition of it. I don’t dwell on it, I just get on and do what I can. There are some days where my horse might have the day off as I am unable to ride due to severe nerve pain, but it is never paid out on me, it is just the way it is. Sometimes in lessons, Rozzie will say use more leg, then there is silence, or I will giggle, and then she will say, or use what ever you use! I know what she means, there is no offense taken.
You have a 4 legged side kick who’s absolutely adorable, can you tell the audience more about her?
I have little Zara, my Mini Fox Terrier, my fur child. This is what happens when you are away from home, a bit lonely and Google Puppies for sale! It was the year of Rio and I had come east for one of the selection events. I was missing home and it was Good Friday. I had been thinking I would like a puppy. I had a friend with a mini Foxy, so I liked the size. When I Googled, a photo of a very cute puppy came up, it had been posted 20mins earlier and was only 20kms away from me. I got on the phone and asked about her, there were 4 available, the breeder said I had better get there quick if I wanted her. I got in the car and by the time I got there, there were only 2 puppies left. I picked her up, she fell asleep in my arms and that was it, she became mine. My life has never been the same since! She is 5 kilos of attitude! She is the best thing, she keeps me company, she makes me smile, best thing I have done. She has travelled across Australia several times.
Funny quirks any of your horses have or do?
Oh they have had plenty! Applewood Odorado, my medal winning horse used to Piaffe when you washed him, non stop!
Romanos does this funny little lip smacking thing when he wants a treat! Licorice is his fave and then once he has had some he pulls this funny face asking for more!
Favourite horse movie?
Ride Like A Girl. I will never forget where I was when Michelle Payne won the Melbourne Cup, I was on the couch recovering from surgery on my bad leg, about to try and do the impossible and qualify for the Rio Paralymics, it was the burst of inspiration I needed at the time. So special. I think the movie was done really well and rather realistic.
Do you have a routine or something you do to relax you when you need a break from work?
What is relaxation?! I enjoy a bit of time on the couch, but I usually fall asleep if I sit down! It is not uncommon to sit and watch something to only wake up a few hours later! I do love to watch films that are based on a true story. I do enjoy seeing a nice view out and about sight seeing as well.
What advice would you give to anyone out there trying to achieve their dreams or goals in life?
Work Hard and if you think you have worked hard, work harder! Don’t be afraid to take opportunities, even if they scare the hell out of you, and get comfortable at being uncomfortable.
Feature Image and Article Images courtesy of Sharon Jarvis ©
– Amylie May Hines Guest Blogger for Living Equine.