Ricky Balshaw
General:
Ricky has cerebral palsy and used to have a lot of spasticity in his muscles until he had a 9 1/2hr operation when he was 10, followed by a 10-week stay in hospital. This operation reduced the spasticity in his muscles and stopped the disability getting worse.
“It is hard to move my limbs individually,” he says. “I don’t use any special tack except jumping reins as my grip is not great. I also use elastic bands on my stirrups to hold my feet in place as I can’t get the stirrups back if I loose them.”
Ricky’s physiotherapist recommended he took up riding when he was aged four as it helps to learn balance and stretch muscles.
Date of Birth:
10th November 1986
Lives:
Shawbirch, Shropshire
Major Achievements:
Ricky’s talent was spotted early and he was asked to join the British Paralympic squad aged only 14. This provided Ricky with best training and guidance until he was 16 and old enough to compete internationally as a member of the British team.
He made his debut in Finland in 2002, finishing third in all three tests. That year, he also competed in Ireland, Holland and Belgium. The following year he was a member of the British team for the 2003 World Championships for Disabled Riders and finished fifth in the grade II freestyle. In 2004, Ricky was first reserve for the Athens Paralympics. He has qualified for the British Dressage (BD) National Disabled Rider championships every year from 1998-2006. In 2007, Ricky took individual bronze medal (Ib) at the World Championships, Hartpury. The following year, Ricky won his first Paralympic medal when he won an Individual Silver - Grade Ib Freestyle at the Bejing 2008 Paralympic Games.
A bad fall in 2009 resulting in several broken ribs forced him to take a break from International competition but Ricky returns with a new horse for 2010, Academy Award. The pair are already showing early promise with impressive results at Moorsele CPEDI in April 2010 and are vying for selection for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later this year.
Ricky also competes at novice level in able-bodied competitions.
Top horse(s):
Deacons Giorgi, a 16.2hh bay gelding by Giorgione out of Amber Express, born 1996 and owned by Julia Lazzari.
Age when started riding/why:
“I was 4 and it was as part of my physiotherapy”
Name of first horse/pony:
Rhodes
First competitive experience:
“A regional Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) show when I was about five or six. At that stage, I still had people holding me on either side of the horse, so that I didn’t fall off.”
Trainer:
Lisa Garland and Michel Assouline
Most admired rider(s) :
"Lee Pearson for what he has achieved in Paralympics and able-bodied competitions.”
Most admired sportsman/woman (non-equestrian):
“Richie Woodhall, My uncle, a boxer who won a bronze medal in Seoul in 1988 and was also World Champion. He is a great inspiration.”
Qualities you look for in a horse:
“The main thing is that it has brakes, so that I can stop. I like well‐built horses and go for warmbloods.”
Favourite competition venues:
Moorsele, Belgium
What other career would you have chosen?
“I am working in the hotel industry part‐time, but riding is my priority.”
Favourite meal:
“Indian food, chicken madras all the way!”
Favourite drink :
A cup of tea
Superstitions:
“I don’t wear green when I’m riding. I was once told that green is an unlucky colour and it stuck in my mind. One day I borrowed a green whip and ended up being bucked off; I haven’t worn green since.”