Image via OYES Instagram.
Established in 2020, the Optimum Youth Equestrian Scholarship is a fund aimed at providing opportunity and mentorship to young riders from diverse backgrounds get a leg up with their riding. The latest round of quarterly awards for Winter 2022 was recently announced and included the Inaugural OYES Eventing Award, which is well-deserved by its recipient Cora Bordley.
Cora, please know that the eventing community welcomes and supports you, and we look forward to cheering you around a cross country course — or wherever your big dreams take you — soon!
Cora’s story:
“I was very fortunate to start riding at a young age when I was a child in PA. I loved the horses and riding, but I HATED the racist and toxic barn culture that permeated the sport. When I was in college, I was fortunate enough to stumble across the endurance community, and I was pleasantly surprised when they welcomed me with open arms despite my skin color. Unfortunately, my work schedule does not allow for endurance conditioning, but I was fortunate to find a nearby eventing trainer/ally. Additionally, because of my physical disabilities, I realized if I fell off a horse 10 miles from a checkpoint, I would be stranded, given the fact that walking is not my best skill.
“I am a person with big dreams, and I want to compete on a USEF level in eventing or showjumping. I am currently taking regular lessons and lease a horse, however there are financial limitations that prevent me from taking lessons as often as I’d like.
“As a para rider, I have personal beef with the para rider classification system and the fact that all para rides are relegated to dressage, which, no hate on dressage, is not my interest. Every disability is unique as a fingerprint, and I want to prove that a rider with disabilities can compete and be successful in any variety of disciplines.
“I am also re-learning how to ride due to a complex spinal cord injury called Syringomyelia. In layman’s terms, I have a cyst growing inside my cervical spinal cord which impacts my motor function, muscle strength, coordination, and more. I have found some amazing adaptations, but ultimately, I need more hours in the saddle to rebuild muscle memory.
“While I make a respectable income in my job, I am still a teacher who has significant medical costs. If I were awarded this scholarship, I would be able to pay for 11 lessons with my trainer which is huge in regards to rebuilding muscle memory and strength.
“My short-term goal is to compete in the 2022 summer show season. While I may not be the winner at any of these events, I want to make an important point that just because an individual is in a wheelchair or has physical disabilities, it does not mean they are any less capable of participating in the sport.”
