Emma Booth

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Session -  The Para Journey- from Participation to Paralympics

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Obsessed with horses from a young age, Emma Booth’s dream of riding one came true when she won a competition run by the TV show 'The Saddle Club' to win a pony and riding lessons.

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Her raw talent was clear early on and in 2011 she accepted a job in Germany riding and training horses for international dressage rider Holger Schulze.

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Emma’s equestrian ambitions were put on hold in 2013 when she was involved in a near-fatal car accident causing paraplegia. Emma was travelling home from an event then a truck jack-knifed and slammed into her car and horse trailer.  The collision was catastrophic. Two of the horses in the attached trailer were killed, and Emma sustained horrific injuries, including bleeding on her brain, fractured sternum, punctured lung, a severely damaged spinal cord and her back shattered. 

Emma spent 4 months in hospital, undergoing intense and seemingly endless physiotherapy. All she could think about was getting back on a horse, and it was this thought that kept her going through the dark and difficult times. Seven months later, Emma found the strength to return to riding. Learning of her options as a Para-equestrian athlete, she set her sights on selection for the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team.

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Emma made her international debut in 2014 at the CPEID3* in Hartpury, UK, placing in the top 10 in three events. The highest scoring Australian athlete, she was named a reserve rider for the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.

Emma realised her dream in 2016 where she rode in two events at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games finishing in 5th place. This was just the beginning of Emma's Paralympic career. 

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Emma and her horse 'Mogelvangs Zidane' made Australian history at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games becoming the first ever horse and rider combination to represent Australia at two Paralympic Games.

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Session - The Para Journey: From Participation to Paralympics

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Discover the inspiring stories behind one of Australia’s leading para-equestrian athletes and two successful Coaches in this engaging keynote panel. Emma Booth, Mary Longden, and Julia Battams will share their experiences navigating the pathway from recreational participation to the Paralympic stage, highlighting the opportunities, challenges, and achievements along the way. Through personal insights and practical advice, the panel will explore resilience, inclusion, athlete development, and the transformative impact of equestrian sport. This session offers valuable inspiration for riders, coaches, support teams, and anyone passionate about creating accessible pathways and fostering excellence in para-equestrian sport.

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