'Sunbury Lodge Voodoo' (AKA Big Kev)
(now with his new rider heading to Canada)
A story of inspiration, dedication and humility.
By Jami Hurley
Photo 1 - Jennifer and her lovely mum Vi with 'Kev'
One day around late October, I received a very persuasive email from Mary Longdon asking me if I would like to lend my 14yo WB gelding for one of her clients to compete at the FEI Para Dressage Championships in December last year.
At first I was reluctant as I wasn't sure how suitable my boy was for such a sensitive task and I was concerned that I might have problems afterwards with his training, let alone how would someone, who was disabled, going to ride my nearly 17hh, very solid and quite 'round' horse?
Unfazed by my questions, Mary explained Jennifer's inspirational story, her determination to succeed and Jennifer's quest to continue to compete even with her extensive injuries. Mary convinced me that she believed in Kev and that he had it in him to do the job. From that point onwards, after a short test ride, I became part of Jennifer's support team in her bid for her international success!
This chapter of Jennifer McKenzie's story began as a promising young event rider when she had an equestrian accident that drastically changed her life. About ten years of rehabilitation finally enabled Jennifer to return to riding. She was able to enjoy sitting astride a horse again and yet had to deal with the frustration of her body that did not respond the way it had before.
The road has not been easy. Before I met Jennifer, she had already encountered limitations and challenges that most of us can't even imagine. Her body that once had been fully functional and able to guide her horses over obstacles at speed now had difficulty staying balanced. Her right side would not cooperate. Her neurological processing was no longer easy and automatic. Everything from speaking to walking had to be relearned and even after years of rehabilitation, some things just did not work. Plagued with double vision and memory issues, Jennifer, with her mother and supporters, began to build ways around the problems and over the years, gradually developed her skills and confidence.
Things like elastic bands were introduced to Jennifer to keep her right foot from popping out of the stirrup and special reins that her hand could grasp. After all of this hard work and dedication, on December 13th 2009 at the Saddleworld Dressage Festival, Werribee, Jennifer won the Grade 2 Championship in the CPDEI riding Sunbury Lodge Voodoo aka my big fat boy 'Kev'.
Photo 2 - Not even the flags disrupted their concentration!
Photo 3 - Jennifer's right leg is held in place with elastic bands.
Photo 4 - After less than a dozen rides, Jennifer won her first International Championship.
Jennifer's Canadian team mates also included Eleonore Elstone, Ashley Gowanlock, and Tara Kowalski. The Canadian team placed second, with Australia winning overall. After returning home, Jennifer continues to train with her Paralympic mount Valentine 11 at D'Alnima Haven Stables in Pitt Meadows CA, preparing to compete at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.
After Jennifer's surprising win, there has been a lot of excitement in Canada about her amazing achievement. This week Jennifer also forwarded one of the latest news items on the official Equine Canada website that reports Jennifer's win :
www.equinecanada.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=855&Itemid=373
Photo 5 - Jennifer with Mary Longdon - International coach and judge based in Bunyip, Victoria.
In doing this small favour for a very deserving person, I too also received a sense of fulfillment and humility that reached into the very core of my passion for horses. Raw emotions surfaced repeatedly over the days as I watched Jennifer, openly vulnerable, trusting and building a sensitive and harmonious bond with Big 'Kev'.
Jennifer's graciousness and genuine pleasure to be involved with my horse and I, was uplifting and refreshing. I have, like many others, felt the stress of training and competing horses over the years. The sincere enjoyment on Jennifer's face allowed me to reach into a place where I had long ago forgotten about. My childhood memories of blissful moments relaxing with my beloved horses, that were buried beneath the desire to succeed and the draw of the 'next' goal, surfaced with a sense of clarity permeated into my soul.
Such an extraordinary experience with amazing outcomes for everyone, and surprisingly, I feel as though I gained the most!! The goose-bumps, my nervous laughter, my heart beating loudly and my tears of joy, all physical and emotional responses to watching an unlikely pair work together in harmony and lightness, each bonding with the other through a partnership of sensitivity and respect.
When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes. ~William Shakespeare, Henry V
'Sunbury Lodge Voodoo' aka 'Big Kev'
Sunbury Lodge Voodo working at home.
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