Belgian Paralympic gold medal winning Michèle George will be campaigning Julie de Deken's internationally competed Grand Prix horse Kingsley Lucky Dance as second hopeful for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. George and De Deken reached an agreement for Michèle to share the ride on the licensed Holsteiner stallion in her mission to recapture individual gold in Rio.
The 42-year old Michèle George is a Grade IV Paralympian competing at Prix St Georges level. In 2008 she suffered from hemiplegia in her left leg after breaking her knee in a lunging accident. She took her rehabilitation process very seriously and learnt to walk again despite the doctor's diagnosis of having to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. George took up paralympic dressage riding and her perseverence and commitment over the years paid off: she won silver at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, double gold at the 2014 World Equestrian Games and double gold at the 2012 Paralympics in London aboard FBW Rainman.
In order to have a second iron in the fire to defend her title of Paralympic champion, the Amougies (BEL) based George went in search of an extra competition horse. Her quest took her 150 kilometers north to Julie de Deken's private dressage stable in Westmalle, where she found a match in Julie's 2013 European Championship and 2014 World Equestrian Games' Belgian team horse Kingsley Lucky Dance (by Lucky Lionell x Placido Sun).
The two Belgian team riders first got acquainted through Julie's brand new project "Youth Dressage Academy" which De Deken launched in partnership with FEI rider Anouck Hoet, who has a degree in PR and Marketing. De Deken and Hoet scout, train and supervise young Belgian dressage talent from grassroots level onto the path of international success in the dressage arena.
"In December we organized an open house day and introduction to the Youth Dressage Academy. The winners of the Belgian regional championships were invited to attend, amongst them Michèle's daughter Camille. Like so many others they were very enthusiastic about the day and our co-operation went so well that we started brooding on this great idea to collaborate," Julie de Deken told Eurodressage.
"It is quite a challenge for Michèle to defend her Paralympic title in Rio and to us it seemed very interesting to offer Lucky Dance as another ace," De Deken continued. "It will also be a fun challenge for me to help her with the training. I'm sure I will learn much from these new circumstances and I will be able to develop myself as a coach on and off the horse. We are both thrilled about this opportunity and aim to make the best out of our own road to Rio."
George is ecstatic to have received the ride on such an experienced Grand Prix team horse. She has already obtained her qualifiction for the Games on her paralympic number one mount, FBW Rainman, and with Lucky Dance she'll start riding the selection trials as of April.
"Riding Lucky makes me more than a lucky girl," George explained. "I've really loved that horse for years. He seemed a real gentleman to me with a lot of charisma and when I tried him for the first time, he gave me the feeling that this ride was the beginning of nice story. If passion drives us to another qualification with Lucky Dance, I think I might say that this would be a luxurious position as it would mean that I can start the fittest horse in September in Rio."
Julie just returned from competing Kingsley Lucky Dance at the highly prestigious 5* invitation in Doha, Qatar, and will now focus on her collaboration with Michèle alongside concentrating on her highly talented 8-year old small tour horse Kingsley D-Day (by Vivaldi x Purioso), who is showing incredible talent for the Grand Prix work. De Deken and George are embracing this unique, Belgian project with passion and commitment.
"Working with Julie is a real pleasure, because we are both first and foremost passionate riders," Michèle explained. "Horses are no machines nor tools to achieve glamour and gold. We both care a lot about our happy athletes. Making a good balanced training program is the issue at the moment. I think that working together is a plus in our careers and I admit that I am really looking forward to the coming up season."
Photos © Dirk Caremans - Jon Stroud - Leanjo de Koster
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