Simon Laurens

Para-Equestrian Dressage

General:

The only reason Simon was introduced to horses was because, when he was 7, his best friend was given some riding lessons for her birthday and she refused to go on her own. Simon’s friend was bucked off during her first lesson and gave up while Simon was hooked. Three months later, his mum bought him his first pony and the obsession continued with, at one stage, Simon riding three horses before school and four after. Show jumping became Simon’s passion and he ended up on the Jersey junior show jumping team and was the captain for three years before moving on to horses. He was on the senior team for nine consecutive years and captain for five of those.

“Then I moved to England and realised I was just an average show jumper. I went back to Jersey and was going to do a sensible job, work in a bank, and keep a horse as a pet. But then the sun shone and I couldn’t go through with it.”

Then Paul Green, the father of the successful dressage rider Gemma, approached Simon to help his daughter with her ponies and he ended up working for Gemma for nine years, watching her progress from show jumping to eventing and eventually dressage. Simon was diagnosed with MS in November 2004. Both his mother and grandmother have suffered with the same disease. He has lost strength in his right side and suffers from general fatigue. After the diagnosis, Simon sold all his horses.

“I am a perfectionist and if I can’t do something properly, I don’t want to do it at all. I made my partner John Gamlin sell everything, all the horses, lorries, 4x4s, but he made me keep one horse, his old showing horse.”

Then John suggested Simon enter a prelim dressage class. It was one of the judges, Chris Porterfield, who suggested he had a bash at para dressage.

“I had never thought of myself as qualifying as a disabled rider. Chris got me all the info and I went to the Para Convention and everybody just egged me on.”

Simon's official website can be found at http://www.simonlaurens.co.uk/

Date of Birth:

28th November 1967.

Lives:

Jersey.

Major Achievements:

Having become a Grade III para rider in November 2005, he won all four para trials he contested with his partner John Gamlin’s former show horse, Ocean Dream, and qualified for the Winter Para Regional Championships. Ocean Dream was retired after going lame the day before the regionals.

Simon has competed Ocean Diamond since, winning all the competitions he has entered on British soil, three para trials as well as the final selection trial and the BD Winter Paratrial Championships. He competed at his first international in Germany in 2006, finishing second in his first test and third in the freestyle. At the 2006 Hartpury International he won the grade III individual championship test and the grade III team test and was a member of the winning British team. That same year, Simon won the Grade III Disabled Dressage Rider Championship at the National Dressage Championships.

In 2007 Simon won a team gold and individual freestyle gold (III) at the World Championships, Hartpury. In 2008, he was selected for the Beijing Paralympic Games and was part of the Gold Medal winning Team in addition to winning an Individual Silver - Grade III Freestyle. In 2009, Simon won an individual bronze and team gold medals at the European Championships.

Top horse(s):

Ocean Diamond, a 16.1hh black Oldenburg gelding, known as Derek, by Rubinstein, born 1996 and owned by John Gamlin and Henriette Andersen

Age when started riding/why:

Name of first horse/pony:

Poo/Champagne

First competitive experience:

“The only reason I remember it so well is because I was the laughing stock of The Pony Club. I was eight, competing my first pony Champagne in a sack race. I was in the lead by a long way. When I finished, I turned round to see I only had an empty bridle in my hand and my pony was grazing half way down the field. I burst into tears and had a tantrum. I told my mum what a terrible pony he was and that she should sell him. She didn’t and he spent the last 10 years of his life as a RDA [Riding for the Disabled Association] pony.”

Trainer:

Henriette Andersen.

Most admired rider(s) :

“I admire lots of riders. Anky is just fab. I admire Carl, who is also from the Channel Islands and has got off his backside and has done something with his life. I admire my trainer Henriette for her shear tenacity. She gets a good tune out of every horse.

“And then there are the para riders. I have had my eyes opened. I assumed they all rode hairy Welsh pit ponies, but having competed at an international, I can’t believe the calibre of the horses and standard of riding. And the riders all compete with a smile on their faces. They never blame the horse if things go wrong. They make me feel humble.”. .

Most admired sportsman/woman (non-equestrian):

Paula Radcliffe

Qualities you look for in a horse:

"Good temperament is key now that I am not as strong as I used to be. Something willing to work with me, not against me."

Favourite competition venues:

Addington Equestrian Centre in Buckinghamshire.

What other career would you have chosen?

“Property developing, which I have started doing with my partner John Gamlin. I am addicted to all the property programs, such as Property Ladder, Grand Designs, and so on.”

Favourite meal:

Grilled Tuna Steaks

Favourite drink :

“Champagne, Pimms and vodka, lime and lemonade.”

Superstitions:

“I have a whole ream of them. I have my lucky black patent belt and my lucky pants, which are white Calvin Klein’s. I don’t allow anybody else to saddle my horse and I would be panic-stricken if there was a number three in my number at a competition. I would turn tail and run for the hills!”