PARALYMPICS: Natasha's dream day (From Witney Gazette)

PARALYMPICS: Natasha's dream day

7:10pm Thursday 30th August 2012 in Sport

When 10-year-old Natasha Baker sat and watched the Sydney Paralympic Games in 2000, she dreamed of taking part herself.

What she saw on TV that day inspired the youngster, who was disabled from a young age, to strive for her dream and she will now take her place at the London Para-lympic Games.

Baker, who competes in dressage and trains in Milton-under-Wychwood, said: “I’m extremely excited, a little bit stressed, but it’s going to be great fun and I cannot wait to get started.

“Sydney was the first time Para-dressage had been shown on TV. I’d never seen it before and it was incredible, mind blowing, seeing people with disabilities like mine and seeing how able they were on a horse. I thought ‘that’s my dream’.”

The 22-year-old contracted a virus, Transverse Myelitis, when she was 14 months old. It left her weakened and unable to feel her legs.

She uses a stick for short distances and an electric scooter for longer ones.