Interview with Paralymic Goldmedlist Tobias Thorning

We spoke with Danish Paralympic gold medallist para rider Tobias Thorning about what is important to him when looking for a new horse, and what differences he sees between para horses and ordinary competition horses.

Tobias is 26 years old and has his everyday life at Stud Blue Hors Tobias’ results speak for themselves. He won Paralympic gold in dressage at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo together with the amazing horse Jolene Hill.

In addition to being an Olympic gold medallist, he has also been Danish Champion, European Champion in 2019 and 2023, and World Champion in 2022.

Tobias Thorning: “The Perfect Para Horse Is Becoming More and More Similar to the Perfect Grand Prix Horse”

International para dressage rider Tobias Thorning believes the modern para horse has changed significantly over the past years. Where para riders previously may have searched for calmer and simpler horses, the demands today are much closer to those seen in top-level international dressage.

“I would actually say that today there is not such a big difference between what makes a top dressage horse and a top para horse, because the quality of para horses has become exceptionally high,” Tobias explains.

Rideability Above Everything

When Tobias describes the ideal para horse, one word stands out: rideability.

“For me, a para horse is a very rideable horse — a horse that does not require too much effort to ride, that is sensitive and follows the rider. A horse that truly bonds with its rider.”

According to Tobias, the most important thing is not necessarily extravagant movement, but rather functional gaits that are easy to manage in training and competition.

“It’s especially the rideable and uncomplicated horses where the functionality of the gaits is almost more important than having huge movement. Functional gaits are much easier to handle in the riding, and they create far fewer tensions.”

Sensitive — But Not Too Sensitive

Although modern para horses should be sensitive and responsive, there is still a clear limit to how sharp or hot they can be.

“We still need the same sensitivity and reaction in the horse in order to create beautiful transitions and to have the horse always in front of us and easy to ride. But at the same time, they cannot be too hot.”

For Tobias, this balance is perhaps what separates para horses most clearly from some traditional top sport horses.

“We simply cannot manage horses that are wild or too strong. Of course they should still be forward-thinking and happy horses, but not horses that become uncontrollable.”

Focus on Welfare Has Changed the Sport

Tobias also believes the increased focus on horse welfare has had a major influence on both para dressage and traditional dressage.

“There has been a strong focus on how the sport should actually look when we ride our tests, and that has really changed the sport. It has also changed what type of horses riders are searching for — both in para dressage and in able-bodied dressage.”

Today’s ideal dressage horse increasingly needs to be:

• highly rideable
• mentally stable
• willing to cooperate
• naturally forward-thinking

Both wild and lazy horses are rejected

When Tobias searches for new horses, there are especially two types he tries to avoid.

“I personally avoid the wild horses. Many para riders simply do not have the physical ability to sit through difficult situations in the same way if the horse reacts strongly.”

At the same time, overly lazy horses are also problematic.

“The horse still needs to move forward by itself. It needs to have a very good mind — a horse that bonds with the rider and genuinely wants to do well for its rider.”

The Future Para Horse

For Tobias, the development is clear: the future para horse is becoming increasingly similar to the type of horse sought after by top Grand Prix riders.

“I honestly believe that the perfect para horse today could easily also be the perfect Grand Prix horse. Maybe we place slightly more emphasis on the walk in para dressage, but otherwise we are looking for many of the same things: rideable gaits, high rideability, and a naturally forward horse.”

And according to Tobias, that is exactly what will continue to shape the future of the sport.

Find Tobias' Instagram here