Mari's Profile

Mari Durward-Akhurst is a Para Dressage Rider and competes at National and International level. Mari is 16 years old and has been competing for 4 years. She is a member of the Pre-start World Class Programme and the Foundation programme for the East Midlands.

Mari is a Grade 3 Para rider because she has Cerebral Palsy (weak down her left side) and hyper mobility and lax ligaments. Mari started riding at her local RDA group, Penniwells when she was 3. She started doing it as a therapy and then after that she decided she wanted to have a go at competing, and it has all spiralled on from that.

So she started taking part in Para competitions and she did very well. At the age of 14 she was selected onto the Pre-start of the World Class Programme.  Mari has continued to do well in competitions and her short term goal is to hopefully be selected onto the start level of the World Class Programme next year.  Her long term aim is to go to the Paralympics (and maybe even win a gold medal).

Mari’s team

Name: Waldminor (Stable name Woody)
Age: 21 years old
Sex: Gelding
Height: 17.2
Breed: Dutch Warmblood by Rapid out of Wald Frida

Major Achievements:

• Qualified for the Winter Dressage Para Championships 2010
• Qualified for the National Dressage Para Championships 2010
• Restricted  Grade 3 Para Dressage Winter Champion 2010
• Finished 3rd at the Para Dressage National Championships
• Qualified for the RDA National Dressage Championships
• Nominated and selected for Millfield Junior International

Woody is a great school master and has a great personality. He loves lots of attention from people and his favourite food has to be polos and carrots.

Mari has been supported by Dengie for two years. Woody is fed on Dengie Hi-Fi which he enjoys eating and makes him perform well.