A Bermudian equestrian's hopes of a Paralympics medal have been dashed because the organisers of the Atlanta event could not provide her with a horse, The Royal Gazette has learned.

Phyllis Harshaw, 40, who underwent six months of intensive training for the event, had to sit out the dressage competition at Atlanta's Horse Park, while fellow Bermudian Kirsty Anderson competed.

Team coach Susan Leighton, who returned from the Games yesterday, said: "Phyllis was devastated -- but they just did not have a horse anywhere near capable of what she needed it to do.'' And Ms Leighton slammed the entire organisation of the Games, which suffered from massive travel and catering problems.

She said: "It was a nightmare -- and the equestrians suffered more than most.'' Among the complaints were the distance athletes had to travel from the Olympic Village to compete and huge queues for food.

Ms Leighton said Miss Harshaw, who is registered blind and missing her left arm after a childhood accident, had high hopes of being among the winners in the freestyle programme set to music.

Both Bermudian competitors travelled without their own horses because competitors had to use animals provided by Games organisers ACORD.

They picked up their partners for events last Friday morning.

But Ms Leighton said: "The first horse offered to Phyllis seemed okay but it started acting in a dangerous manner -- it was leaping in the air.

"Phyllis has a very good instinct for horses and felt it was dangerous so we turned it in.

"It was later withdrawn from the competition because it was wild, so we made the right decision.'' But organisers were unable to present her with another animal until Tuesday of this week -- only hours before the dressage competition was due to start.

Ms Leighton said: "It wasn't safe -- we couldn't put her on a horse which she had never sat on before. It never went to the competition anyway because after we rejected it on safety grounds it was found to be lame.'' And she added: "If she had been given a good horse, she could have won a medal. But once she missed the chance to practise before the competition, it just wasn't possible to do it.'' Ms Leighton added: "The organisers had no conception of the high standard these Paralympics had. The horses presented to us, and not just us, were just not trained or able to perform at the level required.'' She added accommodation, travel and catering were so disorganised the Bermudian team hired a van rather than use the official transport.

And Ms Leighton said the squad even moved into a hotel nearer the arena in the closing days of the competition because they were tired out from leaving the village at 6 a.m. without breakfast.

They were taken back to the village for lunch which meant long queues and an hour-long trip back to the arena.

Games shambles And sometimes the team did not get back until 11 p.m. -- after the catering facilities were closed. Ms Leighton added: "We took care of our own athletes -- we were surrounded by people who suffered tremendous hardships. And these are people who already have difficulties getting around in many cases.''