Congratulations to Upper Sixth student Laura Johnson who competed in the RDA National Championships in July with her pony Alfie. 

Laura started riding at the age of five at a friend’s birthday party and has never looked back. She first tried Dressage when she was 13 and immediately loved the affinity she found with her pony: “Dressage requires a huge degree of accuracy and for that you need a really close bond between animal and rider.”

She now rides once or twice a week at the Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders in Carshalton, and is due to progress on to more advanced Dressage next year. She is inspired by the likes of five-time Paralympic Equestrian Champion and five-time European Champion Natasha Baker MBE and triple Olympic Gold medallist at London and Rio and World Champion Charlotte Dujardin CBE.

The RDA National Championships is the world’s biggest event of its kind for disabled riders. Having qualified for the Championships, Laura entered the Dressage Championships Led (Walk & Trot): Senior category where she finished in seventh position. 

Laura joined Reigate College from Dunottar School because she felt she was better suited to the BTEC Level 3 programme. She is studying BTEC Subsidiary Diplomas in Business and Applied Science and has also been fully involved in College life, performing in the Cross College show, singing in the Choir and playing the violin in the College Orchestra. She says of her time here, “The College has been really supportive of everything I’ve done.”

After College she is hoping to study Journalism at university, and her dream remains to represent Great Britain in Dressage in either the Paralympic or Olympic Games