KATIE JACKSON: Winning at ‘Option B’
“If that’s the way it has to be, I’m making a bid for the Olympics.” Sitting in her doctor’s office, this was one of the first things Katie Jackson said to her husband after her doctor confirmed her right leg needed to be amputated to combat a rare form of cancer. “It’s surprising that it came to me at that moment, but it did,” she says. Katie is a positive person, to say the least. She was referring to the Paralympics in the sport of dressage, and from that moment on, what had been her hobby became her lifeline.
She was back in the saddle just three and a half months after surgery. Re-learning to ride as a para-equestrian gave Katie a break from hospitals, doctors, scans, and worrying about cancer — a way to escape both physically and emotionally. She found that riding as an amputee wasn’t an easy adjustment, for either her or her horse. Katie’s biggest challenge is keeping her seat weighted evenly, and the horses she rides have to re-calibrate to a “new neutral” for straightness. Initially, the horse can feel confused and frustrated by the asymmetry of her lower body, so it’s important for Katie to find horses with the patience and willingness to figure it out without getting stressed.
Katie now competes as a Grade V para-equestrian in international para-dressage competitions and is pursuing her goals of competing at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and 2020 Paralympics. She trains with Kai Handt, the U.S. Para-Equestrian Dressage Chef d’Equipe, at his own North Texas Equestrian Center.
In her short time as a para-equestrian, Katie has already experienced some incredible highs: in 2016 she was named USDF Grade IV Rider of the Year, in March she rode for Team USA on the Deloitte US Para-Dressage Nation’s Cup Team at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CPEDI3*, and gave a demonstration ride to showcase para-dressage at the FEI World Cup Dressage Finals, after which the crowd erupted in applause.
One of the most difficult experiences of her life followed shortly thereafter, when she said goodbye to her horse Wembley, who passed away suddenly after an acute onset of hepatitis and enteritis. “Wembley and I had an incredible journey together over this past year. He taught me to ride with more finesse and purposeful aids, and helped me begin my journey as a para-dressage rider. Although our time together was too brief, I am humbled by the amazing gifts he gave me. Wembley showed me my dreams could truly become reality, and gave me the courage to create this new path that my life has taken.”
While coping with the loss of Wembley, Katie is grateful to have the opportunity to ride and campaign Royal Dancer, co-owned by Julia Handt and Rachel Zent, and is keeping an eye out for her next partner via the Equine Exchange private client group.
On Becoming an Equine Exchange Ambassador
Katie has walked in the shoes of every hard-working amateur who has felt daunted by the financial commitment and opaque process of buying a competitive sport horse. “Equine Exchange just makes sense!” says Katie. “Buying a horse is an exciting but also potentially challenging process, especially as the financial investment related to your equine partner increases. Equine Exchange streamlines and guides the process, ensuring all parties are informed and protected, and even helps connect buyers with trusted sellers. From amateur owners to top international level professionals, Equine Exchange is a great resource to have on your side.”
Get Your Free Copy of The Equine Exchange Guide to Buying a Horse
