A blind horse is about to line up against some of the best dressage competitors in the world.
Milo and his owner, Megan Share, will compete on Saturday at the Royal International Horse Show in Hickstead, West Sussex, in the veteran category for the Senior Showing and Dressage Association.
Share, who runs Debdale Riding School in Kidderminster, said “nerves will be through the roof” when they enter the arena at Britain’s oldest and most prestigious outdoor equestrian event.
“He amazes me every day with what he does, and we have a really good partnership together,” she said.
Milo has been in Share’s care since he was three years old. It was not until he was 12 that he began losing his sight, something Share said was “devastating”.
“We were advised that he shouldn’t be ridden,” she said.
“But we’ve managed him and [the vets] have said as long as he copes in the field and is happy, obviously, your world is your oyster.
“We had a year and a half off but then I thought ‘if I can manage him on the ground why can’t I manage him in the saddle’?
“So since then we’ve just been competing and treating him as if he [sees].”
Share said she was surprised Milo had made it this far.
They qualified for the event at their first attempt when they took part in the Wiltshire Horse Show in February.
“I didn’t even expect him to win his category, let alone become champion,” she said.
“But he’s achieving more dreams than I ever thought he’d be able to give me.
“We didn’t think he’d be able to qualify for Royal International, so that’s another bucket list item ticked off.”
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