In the third and last of the series on outstanding athletes with disabilities, Jessie Moniz talks to Ashlee Brady Kelly who has just returned from a high profile equestrian competition in Canada. Although she did not qualify for the next level of competition she returned to the Island, inspired to continue trying.

For Ashlee Brady Kelly riding horses is the ultimate freedom.

Miss Brady Kelly, 18, was born with cerebral palsy.

"My lower extremities are affected," she said. "My legs are not as strong as they could be. I walk with a noticeable limp."

"For 90 percent of teenagers their source of freedom is their bike," said Miss Brady Kelly. "They hop on the back of their bike and go where they can. That isn't a possibility for me. Getting on the back of my horse is my freedom."

Being on top of a horse is the only time she can move with complete freedom. "I don't have to worry about what is in front of me," she said. "Riding on the back of the horse is the only time I don't have to worry about myself."

She started out horseback riding for therapeutic reasons at the age of six. "I didn't realise it would become my soul," she said.

"I moved to Vermont and continued riding at a stable not designed for special needs.I continued to grow there."

She returned to Bermuda in 2007, and the following year started back at Windreach.

At Windreach, she not only rides using a special saddle, she also volunteers her time.

"Outside of riding horses, I help the stables any kind of way I can," she said. "I clean the tack or manage the horses. I tend to teach new volunteers how to manage the horses."

This week she returned from the WindReach International Para-Dressage CPEDI3 in Ontario, Canada.

Unfortunately, she finished just four points away from qualifying for the 2010 Alltech FEI Worlds Equestrian Games and the London 2012 Paralympics.

However, three-time Bermuda paralympian Alexander (Sandy) Mitchell was successful in his bid to qualify.

"You need to have a certain number of shows under your belt," Miss Brady Kelly said. "They have to be qualified and recognised by FEI World Equestrian Games, so it has to be an international competition."

She had to compete in a team test, a freestyle competition and an individual competition.

"There are two sets of judges," she said. "One set is to your left side, and there is one in the front.

"The score is the average of their scores. You want the average to add up to at least 60, but I came a few points short."

In Bermuda, she rides a horse called Beans who is stabled at Windreach.

"He could not come abroad with me," she said. "I borrowed a horse named Monty. His show name was 'Freddy Fever'.

"He was not a proper dressage horse. He was a moderately sized horse, 15 to 16 hands. He was trained in the Western style of riding, but he did well."

Miss Brady Kelly is about to graduate from Mount Saint Agnes Academy, and plans to attend Bermuda College in September.

"I am hoping to go into human services," she said. "I would like to look into psychology. I am interested in social work."

Originally, she wanted to be a doctor, then thought about becoming a teacher instead.

"I realised I wanted more than just to educate kids," she said. "I want to give children the best opportunity that their lives can afford them. Truly believe that is where I am supposed to go with my life."

For more information about Windreach telephone 238-2469 or email Tammalita Astwood at sports@windreach.bm