SUCH was the severe form of his disability when he was born that the doctors sedated his mother for two days and the nurses put him in a broom closet.

Now 30 years later Lee Pearson is on the top of the world having won six equestrian Paralympic gold medals for Great Britain and a host of other awards too long to mention.

Pearson, who was born with arthrogryphosis multiplex congenita, will be the special guest this weekend when the Bermuda Riding for the Disabled opens its new covered and lighted ring at Windreach Recreational Village in Warwick.

And for those who have never seen him perform dressage, they are in for a treat.

Bermuda's own Paralympic rider, Kirsty Anderson, who first met Pearson in 1999 at the World Championships in Denmark, said: "He is amazing and he is a very dynamic person."

Anderson, who used her connection to Pearson to bring him to Bermuda to help open the facility, added: "The transformation from when he is standing and then getting on a horse is really something to see.

"You would never guess while watching him standing that he could get on a horse and do what he does. He may be disabled but he is a very able-bodied rider."

At this weekend's exhibition, Pearson will be riding Escudero, owned by Jennifer Howard at Seaview Stables whose manager and instructor Dawn Fox said this week: "When he is standing on the ground it is very obvious that he is disabled but when he gets on a horse you wouldn't know it. He is an exceptional rider."

While Pearson is obviously a role model for those with disabilities, he said he also wanted to inspire able-bodied people as well.

"I teach disabled and able-bodied people. I am a national champion and my customers call me for lessons. But I take no prisoners ? the horse is the priority and the rider secondary. But I do like to have some fun during the lessons."

Pearson first started riding when he was nine years old because "I couldn't ride a bike".

He said: "I always loved horses and then I caught the bug."

Of his disability, he said: "I always ask, what is a disability? I think a lot of it is a mental attitude. I often find that people, disabled and able, do not make the most of opportunities which are presented to them.

"I look at my disability as being quite severe on the ground but I feel very comfortable when I am riding. I hope that able-bodied people, when they watch me ride, say, 'Look what somebody with a disability can do given the right opportunity'.

"I could have been wrapped up in cotton wool and my parents could have said, 'You are going nowhere near a horse'. And if that had been the case I would have never found this. There are loads of lessons people can take from seeing me ride."

Of his exhibition this weekend at Windreach, he said: "People can take whatever they want from it. I will come and ride and show people what my day job is. I want to give it a positive angle. I know some people say that disabled people shouldn't be on horses.

"But I say that if I can do this better than able-bodied people then you could also say that able-bodied people shouldn't be on horses.

"Personally, I would prefer to die in an equestrian accident than walk out my door and get hit by a car."

Pearson had 15 major operations after he was born.

But that has not stopped him from travelling all around Europe in his special lorry competing at high level competitions on his big mount Blue Circle Boy.

"When people first see him they gasp and say, 'He is huge'," said Pearson of his 17.2-hands horse. "We get on well ? actually it is a bit like a marriage ? we argue a lot and he can be naughty."

But when they get into the ring they act as one as evidenced by his six Paralympic gold medals, five World Championship gold medals and three European Championship gold medals.

Such has been his impact that the Queen has rewarded him with an OBE and MBE as well as being a nominee at the renowned Laureus World Sports Awards held in Monaco in 2001 where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Sir Steve Redgrave and Cathy Freeman.

Of competing at the Sydney and Athens Paralympics, he said: "They were wonderful. To me the Olympics and Paralympics are all about the people and the volunteers ? and the volunteers at Sydney and Athens couldn't do enough for you. Athens also had an equestrian facility to die for."

Bermuda Paralympic rider Anderson said the new and improved facility at Windreach, which Pearson is helping to open this weekend, will provide a superb setting for riders.

"The ring has a covered roof and special sides which don't go all the way up. There is also special footing and special lighting ? it is a fancy production."

q The official invitation-only opening will be held on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. while there will be an open house for the public on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pearson will put on a dressage exhibition on both days. Also accompanying him from England is his groom Gary Foggome.