It just hit me that this sport could be the thing to take my life. I lost a close friend 18 months ago in riding accident, and all the losses since then have really hit me close to home. I’m not sure what to say. It doesn’t make me want to stop riding, to stop competing, to stop going cross country. There is no better feeling than coming through those finish flags as a team, but I’ll always have those who didn’t in the back of my mind. I look forward to being a part of the changes made to make this sport safer, but when you’re working with a ~700kg animal, safety can never be guaranteed. It’s not a risk I take lightly, but it is a risk and a responsibility I accept, and I still love every minute of it. My thoughts will always be with the friends, family, event organisers, medical teams, all those involved. Keep an eye on us up there, and we’ll keep riding for you down here. See you on the other side.
