Paralympic champion Natasha Baker OBE is back riding after an 18-month break to have her second child, Oliver.
The six-time Paralympic gold medallist has returned to the saddle with the help of a mechanical horse at the South Bucks branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).
“Returning to riding has been very different after Oliver’s birth to how it was after my first pregnancy,” said Natasha, who is sponsored by Agria.
“That time I had my horse Lottie [Keystone Dawn Chorus] waiting at home and the Paris Paralympics on my radar. This time I don’t [Lottie was sold late in 2024 to Irish Paralympic rider Katie Reilly], and I haven’t ridden since November 2024.”
Changing times
Natasha will need to find a new horse if she is to return to the sport “which is not impossible but is always hard to do”.
“Also, my mum wants to take more of a back seat now and enjoy being a nan rather than a full-time groom, so management at home will have to look a bit different,” added Natasha.
“Riding and competing has been my entire life for 26 years — I don’t know what my life looks like without it. I know coming back will be a challenge, juggling it with two small children, so I need to ask myself the difficult questions and try to work out how and if I can make it work. What I do know is I need to get back on a horse to help me figure it all out.
“My first session was brill. For me it’s about getting my hips moving. Head instructor Lizzie [Bragg] gave me some exercises and lots of transitions to do, and I felt really loose afterwards.”
Returning to her roots
Natasha’s riding career started with the RDA’s South Bucks branch when she was nine years old and they were delighted to welcome her back.
“RDA is very proud of our long connection with Natasha and all the equestrian Paralympians who began their journey with us,” said Michael Bishop, chief executive officer of the RDA.
“Across the UK, nearly 450 local RDA’s provide inclusive opportunities for 39,000 disabled people to take part in equine activities that improve health and wellbeing, build skills and confidence, and open pathways to elite sport.
“Natasha is a shining example of this. We are delighted she is returning to South Bucks RDA and getting back in the saddle on mechanical horse Mickey, with the expert support of RDA coach, Lizzie Ragg.”
Natasha plans to ride the RDA’s mechanical horse into the spring and then hopes to ride one of the RDA’s real life horses while she decides her next steps.
Image © Agria/RDA.
