DETERMINATION often leads to success for many people who commit themselves to something they love, whether it be a job or a hobby and that is what Emma Douglas (31), a para dressage equestrian competitor from Nairn has done, having dedicated most of her life to horses.

Emma began her riding career as a four-year-old and went on to complete her 13 years of school at Millbank Primary and Nairn Academy, but with the intention to leave and make a working career in horses.

However, in August, 2005, Emma’s career plans took a turn for the worse when a friend’s horse reared up and landed on her during a lesson at a nearby riding centre, which led to life-changing consequences.

It was just one week before the accident that she and her horse, Murphy, won the British Eventing Scottish Intro (now called the B90) championship.

After spending two days in Raigmore hospital in Inverness, Emma was transferred to Glasgow where she spent eight months in the spinal unit, fighting against an injury which left her legs paralysed.

But although the keen rider’s life was going to change considerably in some ways, it didn’t stop her love of horse riding. Just a month after returning home, she was back on top of a horse.

With the help of her dad, Alistair, to lift her off and on and lead the horse around, Emma attended Riding for the Disabled, at Drumnadrochit, twice a week for two years, to help build up her confidence and strength.

There, she rode well tempered and experienced horses which were used to being ridden by disabled riders.

Spinal Injuries Scotland, a national organisation which provides support and help in the form of sponsorship for those with spinal cord injuries, meant Emma was liable for a grant which, in turn, was used to make her own lift.

Made at the local smiddy, this lift has a hydraulic pump which helps assist her on and off her horse, giving back the independence which she needed.

In 2008, Emma was finally able to get back onto her childhood horse, Murphy, which although gave her a few scares, soon adjusted.

They adjusted so well that the two of them picked up the Scottish RDA dressage championship in 2009 and 2011 and, in 2010, she won the para 25 years and under international, at Millfield, as well as being a part of the 2010-winning Scottish para dressage team.

Murphy’s last competition brought more success for Emma, when she won the para winter championships in Gloucestershire, in 2014.

Buoyed by the success and still as determined as ever, Emma decided to put Murphy out for loan so she could concentrate on her new purchase, Solly.

Purchased from well-known British trainer, Sacha Hamilton, based in Jordans, South Bucks, she trained British para athlete, Natasha Baker, a double gold medallist at London Para Olympics, 2012.

It wasn’t long after, in March, 2013, that Emma made the move south to join Solly in Chalfont St Giles, where both she and the horse could be supported by Sacha. They also received funding from Sport England and National Lottery Funding (a charity which provides support to any athlete which has the potential to go to the Olympics) which may have been harder to source in Scotland.

Emma rides Solly at least four times a week and attends both the gym and physio twice a week.

Success with Solly came quickly, having competed in three internationals, picking up a second at the national championships and then a third place at the winter championships in 2015.

More opportunities arose for Emma when she was selected for the 'World Class Podium Programme', as part of the Paralympic Inspiration Programme.

She was just one of 21 athletes across 13 paralympic sports to join the PIP, which was first launched in 2012.

Last September, Emma was one of two chosen to visit the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

Athletes were nominated by their national governing bodies based on a number of criteria, including being part of a development pathway with the potential for taking part in the 2020 games in Tokyo.

Over the six days, the athletes were able to experience the games for themselves, with the hope of one day becoming a paralympian in their own right.

Although Emma has taken plenty of glory with both Murphy and Solly, she explained that it doesn’t come cheap.

There are bills for livery (for both her and the horse), as well as competition and training fees, and she is always on the lookout for sponsorship.

Meanwhile, Emma is set to train hard in the next few years to, hopefully, be selected as one of the three athletes who will represent GB in the para dressage event, in the Toyko Paralympics in 2020, with any contributions towards funding being greatly appreciated.

“The most wonderful thing about taking part in these events, is that you come to realise that you are not just a rider, you are an athlete,” she concluded.