About Nicola

Disabled from birth with a Right Hemiplegia, a paralysis down the right side of her body and being in constant state of pain through a condition called Dystonia, Nicola was told by her physiotherapist years ago that riding would be good exercise to help ease the pain caused by her disability.

Nicola 3 years old

Early Years

Nicola's fascination with horses began at an early age, her grandfather kept horses at the family home in Bryneglwys. She used to watch her grandad look after the horses and had her first taste of riding at 3 years old. Nicola's mum and uncle spent a lot of time breaking in horses and then selling them on, so she has always been part of the equestrian world.

Nicola was introduced to Dressage at C.S.R.C in Llanfynydd when she was 10 years old – she found she really enjoyed it and started competing at county level.

I viewed my riding as an escape from the constant bullying I suffered at high school. I was made to feel conscious of my disability at school and never looked forward to P.E. Lessons in case I let the side down. C.S.R.C was a place where I could really excel at sport.

Determination

Nicola was talent spotted at the age of 13 years old and became a member of the Junior Squad at the age of 16, at 17 she became a member of the Welsh Squad and 18 competed in her 1st international for Great Britain in Israel.

She saw the Great Britain badges on other athlete’s jackets and found herself wanting one and quite determined to have one of her own.

Determination and self-discipline are key elements of her training.

When I set a goal for myself I put everything into it, I focus on what I want and really go for it.
Nicola Tustain receiving MBE

In 2004, Nicola was nominated for a Laureus award and made it through to the final six athletes, becoming the only Welsh athlete - both able-bodied and disabled - to be nominated for such a prestigious award.

Nicola's Journey of Achievements

  • 1999
    April: Selected for the World Championships.
    June: British International, Gold Medal Individual Straight Dressage event, Gold Medal Individual Dressage to music event, Team Silver Dressage.
    July: World Championships - World Champion, Gold medal Individual straight dressage event, Gold medal Individual dressage to music event. Gold medal Team.
    September: National Dressage Championships – Won Strongid, P Class.
  • 2000
    May: The French Open International, 3 Gold medals, Qualified for Semi Finals, British Dressage Novice Class.
    June: British International, Two Gold and One Bronze Medals.
    July: Sweden Training and Friendly International.
    August: East Yorkshire, qualified for National Championships.
    September: National Championships, Novice (able-bodied), 11th place, and won Strongid – P.
    October: Paralympic Games 2000, Two Gold, One Bronze Medal, Achieved the highest percentage of the whole of the Games of a score of 77% in the Dressage to Music.
    November: Denbighshire Sports Personality of the Year.
    December: Olympia – Awarded the BEF Medal of Honour and the Writers Association Team Award. Nominated for the Western Mail ‘Sportstar Award’ of the Month, British Equestrian Trade Association, Team Award.
  • 2001
    January: The Western Mail & Jury’s Hotel Wales 'Sportstar of 2000' Award.
    May: Three Gold Medals at the Russian Open International.
    August: 1st and Qualified for the National Championships held in Stoneleigh. Two Gold Medals at the British International Championships at Warwickshire College.
    September: 1st in the Strongid, P National British Dressage Championships for disabled riders.
    November: North Wales Newspapers 'Sports Person of the Year' award Nominated for 'Welsh Woman of the Year' 2001.
  • 2002
    February: Finland International. 2nd place Individual event, 1st place Individual event, 2nd place Team event.
    March: Elementary Level British Dressage Competition (Able-bodied), 1st and 2nd Placing.
    April: Soley CDI International Competition, 1st and 4th placing. Elementary Level British Dressage Competition (Able-bodied), 1st and 3rd placing, 1st & Qualified for the National Championships. Achieved highest overall percentage in the competition.
    June: British Dressage Competition (Able-bodied), 1st in Medium Level (scoring over 70%), 4th in Elementary Level, Qualified for the Elementary Regional Finals.
    August: Reserve Champion in the Dutch Open Championships in Holland.
    September: Reserve Champion & Team Gold in the First European Championships for disabled people held in Portugal.
    October: Finalist, Welsh Woman of the Year 2002 (Sport Category).
  • 2003
    May: Selection Trials, Premier League (Addington) 1st placing in all classes entered with my new Horse Prinz Heinrich (owned by Mr & Mrs T Pidgley of The Berkeley Group). Gained the highest overall percentage in the competition from all grades with a score of 84.45% Kur. French Open International won all classes on Prinz Heinrich. Gained the highest overall percentage in the competition from all grades. Qualified for the Regional Championships in Mainstream Dressage Elementary Open Class .
    June: British Dressage International, Overall 1st Place and qualified for the National Championships for Disabled Riders. Won all classes entered and achieved the highest overall % in the competition from all grades.
    September: 2003 World Championships for Disabled Riders in Belgium, Gold medal - Individual straight dressage event, Gold medal - Individual dressage to music event, Gold medal - Team dressage Regained World Title from 1999 (the only Briton to do this). Achieved highest combination percentage from all grades (135 riders) in the competition. Rider Representative for the GB Elite Paralympic Dressage Squad. The Sunday Times Awards. Nominated for the 'Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration' Nominated for 'Sports Woman of the Year'.
    October: The Animal Health Trust Awards 2003. Won the 'Top Dressage Rider of 2003 (Paralympic & Mainstream)'.
    November: The Sunday Times Awards. Reached the final 10 for 'Sportswoman of the Year'.
    December: Sports Journal Awards. Won 'Disabled Sports Personality of the Year' award.
  • 2004
    May: Selection Trials (Belgium), Gold Medal - Individual Straight Test, Gold Medal - Individual Music Test, Gold Medal - Team Event. Laureus World Sport Awards (Lisbon) - Nominated and made it through to the last six athletes the only Welsh Athlete able-bodied and disabled to be nominated for such a prestigious Award. Also had mini documentary television documentary covering before, during and after the event out in Portugal.
    July: Hickstead (Pre Athens Comp) 1st Place (out of ALL Grades Competing).
    September: Athens Paralympic Games, Bronze Medal - Individual Straight Test, Bronze Medal - Individual Music Test, Gold Medal - Team Event.
  • 2005
    March: Part Selection trials for European Championships (Solihull), 1st Place with 84% Kingswood (Staffordshire) 1st Place with 83%. Became a patron for the Forest of Dean Children’s Opportunity Centre.
    May: Selection trials final – Weston Lawns (Warwickshire) 1st Place with 76%.
    June: Became a Patron for the Colin Jarvis Spinal Injury Trust.
    July: European Championships in Hungary Team Event – 1st Place and 1 Gold (Took the overall highest combination percentage of the European Championships). Team Gold and 1 Bronze in the Music Event.
    September: National Dressage Championships - 1st Place in Grade II (Also took the overall highest combination percentage from ALL four Grades).
  • 2006
    February: Welsh Disabled Badminton National Championships. Welsh Champion in the Stand up Category. Offered the job of Teaching North Wales Paralympic Dressage hopefuls at Clwyd Special Riding Centre and the surrounding areas.
    March: Selection Trials for Hartpury International 2006 Morten Morrell College, 1st Place 73% and highest % from ALL Grades Hartpury College, 1st Place 76% and highest % from ALL Grades.
    April: Honoured to have been asked to open the 'Welsh Festival of the Horse'.
    May: Final Selection Trials, Weston Lawns, Warwickshire, 1st in class with 76% and 2nd overall Qualified 7 out of 8 of my RDA riders for the RDA National Championships.
    July: Hartpury International, Gold - Individual Championship Test, Gold -Team, Silver - Warm up, Silver - Freestyle National Dressage Championships KBIS Qualifier Myerscough College, Preston, 1st Place 69% and 1st Overall, Qualified.
    August: 4 Nations Badminton Championships, Cardiff, Bronze, Singles, Silver, Doubles Qualified for European Badminton Championships. Acted as the main referee for one of my RDA Pupils who has been talent spotted for the GB Team Start Squad Honoured to be asked by North East Wales Institute of Further Education for my involvement in setting up a Centre for Disability Studies.
    September: European Badminton Championships, Seville (The only stand up lady player). Played and scored well as a newcomer against the World Number 2 and 5 to whom I drew against in my group. National Dressage Championships, Stoneleigh, 1st, Grade II. Belgium International and Beijing Qualifier, Gold - Team Test, Gold - Individual Championship Test, Gold - Freestyle to Music, Gold - Team. Gained the Highest percentage in Championship Test out of 131 riders.
  • 2007
    February: Won 'Top Trainer' at the British Dressage Talent Spotting for the age group 18 – 25 .
    April: World Championship Qualifiers, Beaverhall – 1st, Valeview - 3rd, Aberystwyth - 1st.
    May: Final Selection Trials, qualified three of my RDA Riders for the Final Selection Trials (Restricted Section) whom all got placed within their grades. Started working towards my RDA Badge at CSRC where I teach individual children and adults.
    June: RDA Regionals, Qualified three out of four riders for the RDA National Championships 2007.
    July: Para World Dressage Championships, 1st- Grade II Team Test, Gold, Championship Test (Retained the World Championship title from 1999, 2003, and now 2007 – the only British rider to achieve this (1999 – Hotstuff, 2003 – Prinz Heinrich (owned by Mr & Mrs T Pidgley of The Berkeley Group), 2007 – Hotstuff), Silver - Freestyle to Music (missed out on Gold by 0.2%).
Nicola Tustain Gold Medal