Star Paralympian dressage rider Nicola Tustain is to retire from international competition.
Citing family reasons, the 31-year-old Welsh rider had a glittering, medal-laden career featuring in two Paralympics and winning numerous World and European medals.
She won individual bronze, freestyle gold and team gold at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic.
In 2003, she retained her World Championships titles with The Berkeley Group’s Prinz Heinrich, scoring the highest percentage of the 135 riders taking part.
Also in 2003 and 2006, she won the British Dressage National Disabled Dressage Rider Championship riding Prinz Heinrich.
Despite having injured her good hand, Nicola took home team gold and individual and freestyle bronze at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
At the 2005 European Championships, she won team gold, individual gold and freestyle bronze.
She competed as an individual at the 2007 World Para-Equestrian Championships, winning gold in the individual test and freestyle silver.
Born in Corwen, Wales, with Right Hemipligia, a paralysis down the right side of the body, Nicola also competed in able-bodied national championships.
She said the decision to stop competing internationally was a tough one: “I’ll continue to be a member of British Dressage and compete locally as well as to teach and mentor to keep my hand in but a break will also enable me to try out other things.
“The riding takes me away from home such a lot. We’re a close family and they have to come first. I’ve had so much support from my sponsors, trainers, family and friends and I’d like to thank everyone that has been involved with my successful career so far.”
