Jem Croft: Not a Paralympian, Not Therapy - Just an Equestrian

What do you do when the one relationship in your life that's never let you down is with a horse, and everything else has just fallen away?

In this episode of the Equitas Podcast, Sarah welcomes back Jem Croft (@jemcroftpararider), a disabled equestrian and advocate who's spent the last few years pushing the industry to make space for riders who are neither Paralympians nor therapy stories - just equestrians who happen to be disabled.

Their conversation moves from the ex-racehorse mare who reads Jem's body better than she reads it herself, to the year Jem lost almost everything and rebuilt her life, quite literally, around one horse.

In this episode:

• Why Jem relearned to ride a horse before she relearned to walk.

• Meeting Joy: the ex-racehorse mare with a mind of her own, and how she learned to read Jem's seat, voice and subtle hip movement within twenty minutes of their first ride.

• The moment Jem seriously doubted whether she was physically strong enough to handle Joy, and what she did instead of giving up.

• Rebuilding a life, a job and a home around one horse after leaving a dangerous relationship.

• Why Jem refuses to be filed under “Paralympian” or “therapy”, and what representation actually looks like in the equine industry.

• The exam system that nearly stopped her finishing her qualification, and the phone call that got her into university anyway.

• Why she stepped back from social media, and what she's learned about boundaries since.

• What peace looks like for Jem and Joy, five years in.

Links: Instagram: @jemcroftpararider