Finally the time had come, I had waited almost 2 years for my passport for disabled riders to be issued. On Tuesday it was in the mailbox and on Friday it was already used. The riding club of Bettenrode organized a late entry. The only competition in which we were allowed to start was a dressage rider Medium test. I had great reservations as a rider with a disability to start there. But now I really wanted to present myself in dressage saddle. Something better could not have happened to us: 4th place meant my first ever Medium-placement in dressage.

The last jumping competition of the season took us to Birkungen. A competition that, according to my experience, is very successful for me. This year only Saturday followed these expectations. Lajano was able to secure another place with a strong round in the 125, while Battal was the fastest round with a discard. In the In the 135 he was back again strong, but had bad luck on the last jump, which also represented the Joker. On Sunday there was a spanner in the works. In the 115 it didn´t work with both horses, because I was probably a bit too ambitious. In the 125 I got off from Lajano prematurely and was not allowed to start with Battal either.

After a few weeks of tournament break, there was only a 115 and a 125 in Uder with my two. Battal was able to win confidently in the 115 and Lajano finished as a strong 6th. In the 125 it didn’t go so well, both horses had throws, which made this day no less successful.

8 days we were on the road. From Saturday to Monday we stayed at the beautiful competition in Merkendorf. My riding fell far short of my own expectations and so we travelled on to Görlitz with the knowledge of what needed to be improved. There we had perfect conditions, super nice hosts and a lot of rain on the first days. But the organizers knew how to restore the great conditions and tried to give me access to the angle as well. On the very first day came my personal highlight: my first start in the 135 class with Battal. With one mistake and more than satisfied we left the course. The following days were ups and downs and on the last day it was once again necessary to fight against the voices that believed that I would not get through the 140 safely. We have proven what we are capable of and on Saturday we went back home highly satisfied.

We got our first win. In the 115 of Neukirchen Battal and I won by one second. Also in our first 125 afterwards the score was zero and we were allowed to compete again in the winner's round. In the end it became the 7th place and so many strangers were happy with us. Here, inclusion has once again succeeded.

In my first 125 jumping class since I am in a wheelchair I got 6th place with Lajano. It's an indescribable feeling. The recognition of the other tournament participants was also unexpectedly high and showed me that I am not only fighting for myself. #becauselifeisworthis