Sophie Christiansen

Para-Equestrian Dressage

General:

Sophie has cerebral palsy, which affects all her muscles including her speech. She started riding aged six when she went on a school trip to her local RDA centre, South Bucks. Sophie is one of the few grade I riders who is not wheelchair-bound. She uses an electric scooter to get about as she cannot walk long distances.

“I wanted a challenge and I had the choice to go to the RDA or do PE at school. I love being on a horse because the horse moves for me and I feel free,” she says. It was Sophie’s trainer Clive Milkins who spotted her talent and inspired her to compete. Sophie has to work hard with physiotherapists to strengthen her muscles to help her riding.

“Trying to sit up straight on a horse is a challenge for me and I have to do special exercises for my core stability,” she says.

Date of Birth:

14th November 1987

Lives:

Sunningdale, Berkshire

Major Achievements:

2003 Riding for the Disabled (RDA) national champion grade I, the level of the most disabled competitors. Sophie won individual bronze in grade I at her first major international, the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, riding Hotstuff. The same year, she was voted BBC London Disabled Athlete of the Year. Sophie made it a gold treble at the 2005 European Para Dressage Championships as a member of the victorious British team and she headed the individual and freestyle grade I tests with Martini Maybe. In 2007, Sophie won individual freestyle gold and individual bronze (Ia) at the World Championships, Hartpury. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, Sophie was part of the Gold medal winning team in addition to taking the Individual Gold - Grade Ia Freestyle and Individual Silver - Ia. 2009 European Championships Individual Gold, Individual Silver Freestyle, Team Gold.

Before riding took over, Sophie used to compete in half-marathons and won the Windsor half-marathon in a self-propelled wheelchair race in 2002. Sophie was chosen to carry the torch for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Sophie was chosen to carry the torch for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. In 2008, she was awarded the Vivien Batchelor Trophy for the most outstanding rider under 25 by the British Equestrian Writers’ Association (BEWA) as well as the Raymond Brooks-Ward Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the most
promising rider under 25 in eventing, dressage and show jumping.

Sophie was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours List for services to disabled sport.

Top horse(s):

Lambrusco II

Rivaldo of Berkeley

Age when started riding/why:

"Sophie first rode when she was 6 but started riding seriously when she was 13 at South Bucks RDA."

Name of first horse/pony:

Kiwi

First competitive experience:

“A really small show at South Bucks RDA when I was about 13.”

Trainer:

“Clive Milkins from the South Bucks RDA has trained me for the past five years and I have squad training with Michel Assouline.”

Most admired rider(s) :

“All my fellow para dressage riders, in particular Lee Pearson and Nicola Tustain. They are great ambassadors for sport in general. I am the youngest, the ‘baby’ of the team, and all the other members really look after me. Athens changed my life – I grew up – I came back confident and knew about the importance of team work.”

Most admired sportsman/woman (non-equestrian):

"Tanni Gray-Thompson because she has done so much for Paralympic sport and has got it well recognised in the media."

Qualities you look for in a horse:

“Outstanding walk and temperament.”

Favourite competition venues:

"Moorsele, Belgium it has a fantastic indoor arena."

What other career would you have chosen?

“I am studying for a maths degree at Royal Holloway University of London. I can’t look after my own horse, so I will need to employ someone to do it and will need a decent job that pays well, but I’m not sure what I want to do yet.”