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And now a look at what it’s all about. Our report from the New Zealand Special Olympics
summer games. 43 teams, 1500 athletes and nearly 1000 volunteers descended on Palmerston
North for the national games – an event that only happens every four years. All the
athletes and their trainers have put in months of preparation. Now it’s time to see if
the effort will pay off.
So where does it all begin – in small communities all over New Zealand like this barn an hour
north of Auckland. Coach Lisa Messenger has spent hundreds of hours grooming these two
young riders for the Games.
Eleven year old Drew has been riding for three years but still needs close supervision. Rebecca’s
a veteran, she’s got six years under her saddle and can manage on her own. Both girls
have intellectual disabilities.
They’re doing really really well since they first started. Rebecca rides almost as good
as I do so …. Put’s me to shame.
Drew and Rebecca have done loads of ribbon events but this will be their first national
games, Drew’s more than a little nervous.
Today we’re going to go over our application, that’s kind of like Dressage alright? So
we’re going to be doing circles, I’m going to ask you to walk to a certain point –
remember we practiced halting, so I’ll need you to walk to a certain point and halt.
She’s done ribbon days and just never looked back, it’s been a really good journey for
her, massive learning curve for her but socially it’s fantastic because she can go and not…
I know this sounds awful but not be judged.
Drew has a rare chromosomal disorder called Dupe 2P Syndrome, it can be fatal, it’s
affected her learning and motor skills.
Equestrian is a precision sport, it involves fine controlled movements that aren’t always
obvious to the untrained eye, much has to do with the bond between horse and rider.
It’s very different to an average rider, you’re having to repeat things a lot with
the different disabilities and things like that. Explaining things – normal language
I would use in the horse world they don’t necessarily understand so we have to develop
our own sort of language so they understand what’s going on and what’s been asked
of them.
It’s half a figure of 8 so you’re going to start at A down there… good girl, do
you want to go off and try that?
So it’s a little different, it’s a great challenge like it extends me as much as it
extends them so can’t ask for better.
Drew’s riding started as a social activity but it has become much more.
I didn’t even realize she was that good to be honest, I knew she was doing RDA and
they were working with her but to see her actually go out and maneuver the horse, do
this on her own it was just so exciting and she was … the photos we have of her with
ribbons and medals, it’s amazing.
I’d love for them to get gold and from there because they get their mark on the map and
go towards the big World Games, it would be great.
Let me win but if I can’t win let me be brave in the attempt.
It’s the Special Olympics motto “Let me win but if I cannot win let me be brave in
the attempt”.
Today they’re on the road, it’s an eight hour trip to Palmerston North.
It’s time to get up and have breakkie and make the bed.
Drew’s traveling with her three team mates and their support crew.
Welcome to the Special Olympics!!
We’ve got nearly a thousand volunteers, 1500 participants, we’ve got 100 clinicians
and students, it’s enormous but it’s been a fantastic team of people who have pulled
it together.
Drew’s first event is dressage, it’s a bit like dancing with your horse. You’re
judged on the horses willingness and responsiveness, how well the rider uses their needs and reigns,
maintaining the correct sitting position and how the horse and rider work together –
it’s a tough ask of these contestants.
The fact that it’s a completely unknown territory for her, the horse was a completely
different horse so very forward moving in comparison to the one she trains on.
Logistics meant no one could bring their own horse, instead all horses here have been loaned
by local owners. In Drew’s class riders compete at a walking pace and have a guide
or leader but Drew’s still expected to start and stop and turn her horse. She’s doing
better than everyone expected.
We landed on our feet with the leader she got, he’s been absolutely amazing, very
supportive and instructions to her has been fantastic. The bond she’s made with him
and his horse is just amazing.
Rebecca’s also doing dressage but she competes without a leader. Today she’s full of confidence
but she had a timid start.
Yeah the first day was I don’t want to do it, I can’t do this and soldier on and we
pushed her and said “you can do it” and then today she just come out and she just
done it – it’s really good.
Their whole idea of it is that they’re to come away winners, Drew was really panicking
about what if I don’t get something so yeah I kept saying to her it doesn’t matter whether
you get something or not it’s the experience and what you take away from it.