Sophie Wells

Para-Equestrian Dressage

General

Sophie was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, which is an unusual condition of foetal development in which fibrous bands of tissue that originate from the amniotic sac encircles and constrict certain foetal areas, in Sophie’s case it has affected her hands and ankles, causing her to lose a lot of her fingers.

Sophie started riding at the age of 8 at the local riding school, and 8 months later was the proud owner of her first pony, who came to live at the family farm. For the next couple of years, Sophie competed in all the usual PC activities, but after a couple of bad falls whilst jumping, Sophie took up able-bodied dressage at the age of 12.

All Paralympic riders are classified depending on their degree of physical disability and range from Grade 1 to 4, Grade 1 riders have a greater degree of disability than Grade IV and the tests reflect this in the movements that are required to be performed.

David Hamer, World Class Development Programme co-ordinator for Para-Equestrian dressage, spotted Sophie at an U21 talent spotting competition for able-bodied dressage riders in 2003. David urged her to go for a classification, and try for the World Class Development Para-Equestrian dressage selection trials. Sophie was classified as a Grade IV rider and was selected onto the programme in 2004.

Sophie’s dressage pony at that time was called Solo, who unfortunately had to be semi-retired due to coffin joint disease, but has since found another career, and is helping a little girl with autism to overcome some of the problems related to this illness.

Sophie succeeded in the early stages of her para dressage career on a Welsh Section D, not a conventional dressage horse, however with the help of Angela Weiss and Tracey Woodhead, they trained him to perform equivalent movements that able-bodied riders do at Prix St. George level, which as a Grade IV rider is the standard Sophie has to compete at.

“I have a fantastic trainer, Angela Weiss, who is very supportive, I couldn’t have got this far without her’ explains Sophie. Now Sophie has since moved on, and has competes Valerius, Touchdown II and her current championship horse Pinnochio.

Being selected for the World Class Para Dressage Programme has given Sophie so much confidence, not just in her riding, but everyday, general confidence. “I have met so many nice people and some of my best friends in the past 4/5 years, we are all a really tight squad, everyone supports each other.” Sophie attends squad’s sessions, for theory and practical sessions every month, across the country to train and further her knowledge in the sport.

Sports psychology is one of the support services that Sophie receives by being on the Programme, and this has helped her with her competition nerves, as beforehand due to her nerves, Sophie would forget the test, but with the strategies now put in place to help her, these have now been overcome.

Sophie attended the Robert Pattinson Language, Science & Maths college, where she took 10 GCSE’s in 2006, 3 a levels in 2008 and is currently studying for a degree in Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Lincoln.

“I love doing this, it is a lot of hard work, and there are so many dramatic highs and lows, which can be hard to overcome. But when you stand there listening to your national anthem it makes it all worthwhile! Sometimes it is hard to fit in all my uni work with my training, but you have to find time. Horse riding is not just a hobby for me, but a way of life.”

Sophie is now on the World Class Performance Squad, and has competed for Great Britain on numerous occasions, including the World Para Dressage Championships, Europeans Championships, and won at the able bodied junior international competition at Hickstead CDIJY.

In 2009, Sophie was selected to compete at the European Championships where she achieved an outstanding performance with Pinocchio winning Individual Gold, Individual Gold Freestyle and Team Gold medals.

Sophie's official website can be found at http://www.sophiewells.com/

Major Achievements:

Sophie, who is a grade IV rider, was selected for the World Class Start programme in 2004. She was
named 2005 BBC East Midlands junior disabled sportswoman of the year and was promoted to the World
Class Potential squad in 2006. Also in 2006, she achieved the highest score at the Millfield Para International and became the under-21 international para champion. Sophie has also been awarded the TASS (Talented
Athlete Scholarship Scheme) 2012 scholarship in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

In 2007, she finished sixth in the World Para-Equestrian Dressage Championships as well as taking third
place at the Hickstead Under-21 international in the able-bodied junior advanced medium class.
Sophie was first reserve for the 2008 Paralympics with Touchdown II. Also in 2008, she became the national
grade IV champion.

Competing in able-bodied competitions, Sophie qualified for the 2008 novice, elementary, medium and
advanced medium regional summer championships with two horses. She also qualified for the Young Horse
& Breeding Championships at prix st georges level. The same year, Sophie became a member of the British
Young Rider Progression Squad for able-bodied riders.

She had more success at the Hickstead Under-21 international in 2008, this time winning the junior rider
international class, thereby becoming the first para rider to win an able-bodied international competition.