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Madison Lawson

My name is Madison Lawson and I am a Para Athlete, dedicated and committed to achieving this childhood dream despite the setbacks I’ve encountered along the way. A serious life altering riding accident nearly prevented me from pursuing this goal.

In June of 2007, I suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury when a horse I was exercising reared, tossed me off, lost its balance and fell on top of me. I felt a sharp pain in my back, then couldn’t feel my legs. I knew my back was broken and with no feeling in my legs, I knew I was paralyzed and feared I would never ride again.

I was airlifted to Sick Kids Hospital where I underwent a 13 hour operation to rebuild the crushed vertebrae in the middle and lower part of my back and fuse them to my spine using titanium rods. When asked if I would ever be able to ride again, my surgeon Dr. Reinhard Zeller’s response was, “I don’t know if you will even be able to walk again”, but he NEVER let me lose hope!

Once I was stable enough, I was transferred to Bloorview Kids Rehab to start a very long and daunting journey of rehabilitation. I told my physiotherapist that my first goal was to walk ten steps which raised more than a few eyebrows! The first time I tried standing was the second most painful thing I’d ever experienced, with the accident being the first most painful. With much support, I did indeed manage to attain this goal. I learned how to function normally with limited feeling in my legs. I even learned to do some fancy tricks in a wheelchair. It was many months of agonizing work before I could walk short distances without the aid of a walker.

Within 8 months of the accident, I found myself back in the saddle. I had been so unhappy watching everyone riding around me that it made me decide to attempt riding again. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.

Because of my handicap, I soon realized that I could no longer do Eventing; therefore, I changed course and focused all of my energy and attention on Dressage.

It quickly became clear that my small thoroughbred was not suited for the Para Dressage discipline; so the search began and into my life entered McGuire: a towering 15 year old dressage horse that my coach suggested I try out. The match was made and so began my Para Dressage debut the spring of 2009.

I’ve since racked up an impressive number of placings, earning the scores I needed to qualify for International shows. It also secured me a spot on Team Canada and I was proudly able to represent my country at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. I’ve achieved many of the goals I’d set out to do and now have a new dream; that of the 2014 World Equestrian Games, the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto, Ontario Canada and the 2016 Olympics Games in Brazil.

Hobbies

  • Swimming
  • Reading
  • Watching hockey
  • Photography

Milestones

    2007

  • At the age of 13 learned to walk again, 6 months after my life-altering accident.

    • 2008

  • In the month of February I rode a horse again for the first time since I became an incomplete paraplegic.

    • 2009

  • In the month of April I competed for the first time in a national Para Dressage show.
  • Champion - National Para Dressage Championships, Beaulieu, Que.
  • Gold Medalist - Ontario Para Sport Games.
  • Invited to attend the European Championships, Norway.
  • Provincial Champion - the Provincial Para Dressage Championships, Bethany ,Ont.
  • Quest for Gold - Ontario Athlete Assistance Program recipient of $6,000.00. Awarded to Para-Dressage rider who are on track for the Olympic podium through a point system by ranking each rider based on their competition results in a specific qualifying period.

    • 2010

  • Individual Bronze Medalist at her first International show - at WindReach International CPEDI3*.
  • Champion - Ontario Dressage Grade lV Championships - Bethany, Ont.
  • Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games - Team Canada - Lexington, Kentucky, 11th Freestyle, 15th Individual.
  • Quest for Gold - Ontario Athlete Assistance Program recipient of $6,000.00. Awarded to Para-Dressage rider who are on track for the Olympic podium through a point system by ranking each rider based on their competition results in a specific qualifying period.
  • Awarded $4000 scholarship - Petro-Canada.
  • Guest speaker at the Ontario Equestrian Federation conference.

    • 2011

  • Nominated for Female Athlete with a disability Ontario Athlete of the Year - Toronto, Ont.
  • Champion - Ontario Dressage Championships Grade lV, Bethany, Ont.
  • Silver Medalist - Team Canada - NEDA Fall Festival, Saugerties, NY.
  • Quest for Gold - Ontario Athlete Assistance Program recipient of $6,000.00. Awarded to Para-Dressage rider who are on track for the Olympic podium through a point system by ranking each rider based on their competition results in a specific qualifying period.

    • 2012

  • Team Gold medal at Gold Coast Opener Festival, International CPEDI3* and third in Freestyle.
  • Currently ranked 5th in Canada.