UXBRIDGE’s Paralympic dressage champion Natasha Baker booked her spot at next month’s European Championships with victory at the Hartpury Festival – but she had to do it without the help of mum Lorraine.
Baker was victorious in the FEI Para Freestyle Test Grade II event and the FEI CPEDI3* team competition despite spending the build up to the event in Gloucester in A&E.
Mum Lorraine, who acts as groomer to Baker’s horse JP, suffered a foot injury and was ruled out of action, leaving the London 2012 heroine to find a last-minute helper to stand in.
Victorious Baker told the Gazette: “Mum fell over and tore the ligaments in her foot so I was groomless for Hartpury. It wasn’t the best preparation but luckily JP’s owner lived close by and he brought his groomer over to help us out. It worked out fine and the whole team pulled together brilliantly.”
Lorraine is now recovering and is hoping to be back alongside her daughter for August’s European Championships in Denmark, with Baker’s result in Hartpury sealing her spot on the British team.
Baker added: “Hopefully with a few weeks recovery Mum can be back to help me for the Europeans. JP is very well known for his consistency so that’s really positive for me and we got pretty much the same results as last year so that was good. I know there is more to come as well though.
“At the moment JP is going how he was in London, so now I’ve got a little bit of time to get him to peak at the Europeans. I’ve got a quiet few weeks now really but I’m going to the anniversary games at the Olympic Stadium at the end of the month. Then there’s a reception with Boris Johnson to mark a year since the Games. I’ve got to focus now on the Europeans.”
