Author Description

As a young woman Rayna Matthews was severely disabled by polio, so she could no longer ride the horses she loved without acute discomfort. In a trot her legs would go into painful spasms. The solution came when she was introduced to Cecily Friar, a founding member of the Side-Saddle Association. From there she never looked back. Training hard to perfect her skills as a horsewoman, she eventually succeeded in qualifying for the national team, and represented Britain for many years in international dressage. After retiring from competition, she continued to be involved in the sport as a trainer and judge. Side-saddle has great advantages for people suffering from a variety of disabilities, and Rayna has been one of its most enthusiastic champions, helping to set up TRADISSAR, a charity devoted to training the disabled in side-saddle riding.