Winner at the Dressage Ireland International Championships

Saintfield man Doug Stevenson suffers from an hereditary eye disease which caused his sight to deteriorate over recent years until it resulted in total blindness in March this year. However, this has not stopped the 24-year-old equestrian from overcoming his disability and achieving successes denied most able-bodied folk.

Although never having competed in Dressage before, he garnered wins in both the Category One Novice championship and the under-25 unrestricted Novice Championship at the Dressage Ireland International Championships.

He also secured a place on the Irish team for the British Dressage Senior Home International in September, taking team fourth and second place as an individual. A fantastic achievement when you consider that he was pitted against fully sighted competitors!

Doug is being trained as a working pupil by Yvette Truesdale, who is herself a top level dressage rider who has represented Ireland many times and competed at the World Equestrian Games.

Doug attributes his success to the close affinity he has with his horse Youri, a 17-year-old chestnut gelding.

Doug’s ultimate aim is to compete at the Paralympics and with his determination and drive, that dream should soon become a reality.

Two top level dressage riders, Roland Tong and Shane Rawlins, have urged him not to limit himself to para-riding but to aim as high as he can.