My name is Sky and I am a chestnut-colored mare. When I was younger, I competed in horse shows. Some horses and riders are so talented they compete in the summer Olympic Games. I think the best Olympic horse was a mare named Jubilee who competed in the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games in the sport of Dressage.
Jubilee’s rider was a young woman named Lis Hartel. Lis loved horses and was an excellent rider who won many championships. But in 1944 Lis got very sick with polio and lost the ability to use her lower legs. Her recovery was long and sometimes discouraging. Lis had to re-learn how to ride without the use of her lower legs and she needed help to get on and off her horse. It was challenging but Lis was determined to ride, so she continued to practice with her loyal horse Jubilee. After several years working together, the team of Lis and Jubilee became so accomplished that they qualified for the 1952 Danish Olympic Dressage Team.
At first Lis was afraid to compete against the world’s best rider and horse combinations, but with encouragement from her family and friends she decided to try. Lis and Jubilee traveled to compete in the Olympics in Finland in 1952 and in Sweden in 1956. They did so well together that they won silver medals both times!
After her successful Olympic competitions and knowing how much horse riding helped her to overcome the obstacles caused by polio, Lis Hartel became a pioneer in the development of Therapeutic Horse Riding.
