EMMA Douglas has achieved amazing success with her horse Murphy seven years after a riding accident left her paralysed from the waist down.

Emma had owned Murphy, known as Cartoon Top Cat, for two years . They evented and the week before the accident had won the Scottish intro championships at Hendersyde and were looking to move up a level.

"Before I didn't really like dressage, it was always a means to get to the cross country and showjumping," said Emma, but now she has embraced dressage and has her sights set on Paralympic success.

Emma from Gollanfield in Inverness-shire was riding a friend's horse which reared, she came off and the horse landed on top of her – she shattered her lower spine and damaged her spinal cord, although the cord had not been severed.

"I had a metal rod inserted to fuse my spine back together, but I was told there was nothing they could do to repair my crushed spinal cord," said Emma, who spent eight months in the Southern General spinal unit in Glasgow.

Emma was determined that she would ride again and she got back in the saddle only a month after leaving hospital.

"The doctors said to wait a year before getting back on," said Emma. "I had to start from scratch again and went to the RDA Group at Borlum, Drumnadrochit twice a week for the first year."

A friend rode Murphy while Emma was getting lessons at Borlum and for the next two years after the accident. But one day Emma arranged for Murphy to be brought to the yard, as she had decided to get back on him.

"I had visited him regularly at his stables, where I had once worked, at Logie Farm Riding Centre, in Nairn, and he was used to seeing me in my wheelchair," explained Emma.

"It took quite a lot of training to get him used to standing still and the same for getting off. He could previously be cheeky and fidget but from the moment Dad helped me into the saddle, I think Murphy realised I had changed, and what I needed from him had altered too."

The RDA introduced Emma to using long whips in each hand in place of her legs, and Murphy adapted quickly.

"He seemed to sense I had no balance, and I couldn't grip with my legs. I would lose my balance and he would stop and was unsure what to do," explained Emma.

"Using my voice, weight and what little balance I could muster, I was able to influence which way he went."

As well as the two whips Emma uses a hand-hold (a loop of cord to grasp on to) at the front of the saddle if she loses my balance.

"I also have velcro straps that run from the girth to the stirrup irons to help secure my lower legs, as they have a mind of their own and rubber bands on the stirrups wrap around the toes of my boots, to secure my foot to the iron," explained Emma.

"I arranged for us to go back to Borlum Farm every week. Then when I felt I had gained enough confidence and strength to move away from the safety of the RDA school, I mounted him at the yard."

That was another emotional day, each week Murphy and Emma gained confidence and progressed from the arena to hacks in the countryside.

Both Erik Mackechnie, who was the para rep for Scotland, and Claire Morton from Logie have been very helpful to Emma. Claire in particular pushes Emma "quite hard".

After making steady progress two years on Emma went to a riding club dressage competition and then entered para-dressage competitions. Riders who compete in para-dressage are classified by their physical disability, not their riding skill. The Grades are Ia, Ib, II, III, IV with Ia being the most seriously impaired and Grade IV the least, Emma is Grade II.

Her first para event was in 2010 at Loughton Manor in Lincoln which qualified them for the para-dressage championships at Hickstead. Emma and Murphy were third in their section.

"I was nervous but came away thinking that I can do this." That same year the pair won at the Scottish Riding for the Disabled Association Championships.

However, Emma is very determined: "If I get a set back, I don't let it bother me, I'm always trying to be better."

Emma believes: "Riding is giving me the physiotherapy my legs need. I still have no feeling from my knees down, but can straighten both legs and even have a little hip movement."

Emma and Murphy continue to take part in both able-bodied dressage and para-dressage competitions, concentrating on training in Scotland and qualifiers as close to home as possible. The closest is at Mundole, which was a novelty as she is able to travel there and back in one day, compared to Bishop Burton in North Yorkshire where the next closest qualifier is held. "I'd hope in time there will be more qualifiers in Scotland and I'd like to get more para riders to take part."

Also in 2010 Emma represented Great Britain in an international young rider competition at Millfield School in Somerset. They were first in their section and gave Emma the encouragement to pursue further para-dressage success.

Not all of Emma's rides on Murphy are plain sailing. In 2011 at a local show, Murphy spooked and Emma fell off and he glloped across the field. She got back on and carried on with her dressage test. It was only the next day when her leg swelled up that she went to hospital. She had a spiral fracture of the right tibia which was plaster cast and Emma was off for three months. A month after getting back on Emma rode at the Scottish RDA Championships at Sauchieburn and won both classes.

Emma is a member of the Horse Scotland Rider Performance Squad and was recently interviewed with the BEF World Class potential squad.

In a step towards achieving further success Emma has just purchased a new horse – Apart – who has been schooled to advanced medium level. Currently he is based in Buckingham and Emma has been making regular trips down to ride him.

"I've given myself the next year to get used to him. He's very responsive to the seat and voice and is very willing. He's got a good temperment and listens. I have my sights set on making it to the Paralympics," adds Emma.

It's plain to see Emma is very determined, her drive to succeed is inspiring as well as her commitment to the sport. I have no doubt that if anyone can make it to the Paralympics Emma can and I'll be watching out for her name as part of British teams in the future.