Agria Press Release

‘This will help me figure out my future,’ says the Agria-sponsored rider

Multiple Paralympic champion and Agria sponsored rider Natasha Baker OBE has taken to the saddle for the first time since having her second son, Oliver, as she starts to consider her future career in horse sport. And she’s started out on a mechanical horse at a local RDA branch.

“Returning to riding has been very different after Oliver’s birth to how it was after my first pregnancy,” Natasha, 36, explains. “That time I had my horse Lottie [Keystone Dawn Chorus] waiting at home and the Paris Paralympics on my radar. This time I don’t [Lottie was sold late in 2024 to Irish Paralympic rider Katie Reilly], and I haven’t ridden since November 2024,” she continues.

So, any return to the sport will require a new horse to be found “which is not impossible, but is always hard to do,” continues Natasha.

“Also, my mum wants to take more of a back seat now and enjoy being a nan rather than a full-time groom, so management at home will have to look a bit different.

“Riding and competing has been my entire life for 26 years — I don’t know what my life looks like without it. I know coming back will be a challenge, juggling it with two small children, so I need to ask myself the difficult questions and try to work out how and if I can make it work. What I do know is I need to get back on a horse to help me figure it all out.”

For Natasha, riding with RDA’s South Bucks branch marks a return to her roots for this is where her journey to Paralympic stardom began when she was nine years old. And they were delighted to welcome her back.

“RDA is very proud of our long connection with Natasha and all the equestrian Paralympians who began their journey with us,” adds Michael Bishop, RDA CEO. “Across the UK, nearly 450 local RDA’s provide inclusive opportunities for 39,000 disabled people to take part in equine activities that improve health and wellbeing, build skills and confidence, and open pathways to elite sport. Natasha is a shining example of this. We are delighted she is returning to South Bucks RDA and getting back in the saddle on mechanical horse Mickey, with the expert support of RDA Coach, Lizzie Ragg.”

“My first session was brill,” Natasha reports. “For me it’s about getting my hips moving. Head instructor Lizzie gave me some exercises and lots of transitions to do, and I felt really loose afterwards..”

Natasha, who is a regular commentator on elite dressage, plans to continue riding into the spring on the mechanical horse, and then hopes to ride one of their actual horses while she decides her next steps.

Agria UK CEO Vicki Wentworth commented: “At Agria we have watched Natasha’s career unfold with such admiration, and how clever she is to explore her future options with the help of the RDA, one of Agria’s treasured charity partners.

“Riding as a young mum always brings challenges, and especially so for a rider with disabilities, but Natasha will continue to be a huge asset to the horse world, whichever path she takes next.”

To find out more about Agria and supporting RDA visit rda.org.uk/agriaxrda