Posted: 28th June 2022 | Back to news feed
Blind international dressage rider Verity Smith has joined Team Equisafety as the latest brand ambassador.
Verity is well known in the sport of para dressage, but is also highly regarded as a campaigner, singer, songwriter and author.
Over the years, Verity has also been selected to compete internationally as part of the French Para Dressage Squad.
Verity believes in advocating the ability in disability and relishes the challenge of defying convention and breaking down boundaries.
Previously Verity represented Great Britain as part of Para Team GB and is currently competing at Able Bodied Prix St George and Inter 1 dressage levels.
Equisafety has provided a host of high visibility clothing for not only Verity to wear but also her labradoodle Guide Dog ‘ITV This Morning’ star Luna.
Said Verity: “I am delighted to have gained support from Equisafety and love their high visibility clothing for horse and rider that is also super stylish.
“Luna looks fantastic in the dog coats and it is so important that as a visually impaired rider both Luna and I am seen from a distance.
“In the warmer months I wear the multi-coloured waistcoat and in the colder weather my choice is the Inverno Jacket which keeps me warm and dry.”
Added Nicky Fletcher of Equisafety: “We are delighted to be providing Verity, Luna and her top ride Daisy de Nimes with clothing from the Equisafety collection and are looking forward to following their success throughout the year.”
As a campaigner, Verity has campaigned for guide dogs to have the right to travel on commercial flights, Eurostar and SNCF - the French national railway, while also representing Guide Dogs in the House of Lords for the signing of the High Street Charter – regarding accessibility for disabled shoppers.
Verity is competing and winning at the highest level ever achieved by any blind rider in the World at Elite Able Bodied competitions. Verity attributes much of her successes to her amazing trainers Sandy Phillips, Laura Tomlinson and in France, Alain Franqueville.
Well known for her partnership with her previous horse Szekit, she is now partnered with Daisy de Nimes - Verity is very proud to be compete at the highest level in her chosen sport.
With the talented black Hanoverian mare Daisy, Verity’s goal is to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics representing France.
Although Verity counts her horse's strides her competition success is also helped by her amazing team of Scoobies.
As a blind dressage rider Verity has the right (granted by the International Federation) to have up to nine callers positioned at each letter around the dressage arena during her dressage performance.
Accuracy is an essential part of dressage tests and this dedicated group of volunteers, whom Verity affectionately calls her Scoobies, provide an audio rather than a visual reference to these letter markers.
For further information visit www.equisafety.com
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