WHEN life drags you down, get back on your horse, they say.
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And that is exactly what Annette Weightman did.
The 50-year-old who has an intellectual disability began riding horses three years ago in Daylesford with the Riding for the Disabled Association Australia.
On one occasion when she was riding her favourite horse Shadow, a person scared the horse causing it to buck Ms Weightman off.
She got straight back on.
After an exceptional performance at the RDAA state championships, Ms Weightman went onto compete at the national championships in November and won two second places in the dressage walk classes and a ribbon for Prix Caprilli.
She placed sixth out of 12 competitors on the national stage.
The people at Karden Disability Support Foundation – where she is a client – have watched Ms Weightman come out of her shell since she began riding horses, a hobby she has been fascinated with since she was little.
“Since she began riding her skills and confidence has just bloomed,” support co-ordinator Brenda Maguire said.
Ms Weightman hopes to ride in a dressage event in Kingston later this month.