| Hobbies |
Skiing, cooking, wine, shopping, eating out, watching films and TV series. (sophiefrancesequestrian.com, 13 Dec 2020) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning two gold medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. (horseandhound.co.uk, 28 Apr 2022)
She also won three gold medals at the Paralympics in Rio, in 2016 and another in Tokyo. (Paralympics.org.uk, 14 August 2024) |
| Hero / Idol |
British equestrian riders Zara Tindall and Lee Pearson. (sportandrecreation.org.uk, 02 Sep 2020; natasha-baker.com, 01 Sep 2018; Athlete, Feb 2023) |
| Injuries |
In December 2012 she injured her hip after falling from a young horse. She was taken to a hospital in an ambulance with a suspected broken pelvis, but was later diagnosed with pelvic bone bruising. She was out of action for three months. (sophiefrancesequestrian.com, 13 Dec 2020) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"I have learnt now that I have to concentrate on the process and the results will take care of themselves. I just have to do my best in preparation, and the best test is whether I can perform on the day under the circumstances I am given, and then I know I couldn't have done any more. Then, no matter what the results are, I am happy as I gave it 100%." (sophiefrancesequestrian.com, 13 Dec 2020) |
| Awards and honours |
She was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [OBE] in the 2022 New Year Honours list. She was previously appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in 2013. (gov.uk, 01 Jan 2022; natasha-baker.com, 01 Sep 2018)
After the 2012 Paralympic Games in London she was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Hillingdon and the City of London. (horseandrider.co.uk, 01 Sep 2020) |
| Famous relatives |
Her mother rode competitively in jumping and eventing. (natasha-baker.com, 01 Sep 2018) |
| Impairment |
At age 14 months she contracted transverse myelitis, a virus that damages the spine. The condition resulted in permanent nerve damage, loss of balance and weakness in her legs. (farmologie.co.uk, 01 Mar 2021; yourridingsuccess.com, 01 Mar 2020; natasha-baker.com, 01 Sep 2018) |
| Other information |
MEDIA WORK
She began doing media work related to equestrian sport at the 2017 European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, as she was not competing at the event. Since then she has worked for FEI TV at World Cup competitions, and also co-hosted the 2018 International Equestrian Federation [FEI] Awards in Manama, Bahrain, with Spanish dressage athlete Juan Matute Guimon. "I've never been so nervous in my life. I travelled out there a couple of days ahead of the awards and worked with colleagues from the FEI to write the script, and then we rehearsed a few times too. Once I started though it was all fine and I loved every minute of it. Even in all my years of competition I've never had such a high as I had after that. I was awake until 05:00 running on adrenaline." (LinkedIn profile, 18 Jul 2022; fei.org, 12 Apr 2019)
DEALING WITH NERVES
She says she has learned the importance of which horse she is riding in relation to managing competition nerves. "I think some nerves are a good thing as long as you can direct them in the correct way. Each horse I have ridden is so different, and you can use your nerves, or excitement, as I prefer to call it, to work for you. So for JP [also known as Cabral], he was super sensitive, so I had to be very calm and measured with him to ensure he was relaxed. With Lottie and my old mare Sooki, they prefer to be ridden with a bit more gusto and drive - this is much easier to direct the butterflies too. I think it's really important to work on your own psychology and then learn how to use this in your warm-up to suit the horse. But at the end of the day, no matter where you're riding, whether it's at home or at the Paralympics, it's just you, your horse and the whiteboards - the same test, just a different arena." (sophiefrancesequestrian.com, 13 Dec 2020) |
FEI Database
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