FEI - Para Equestrian Digest: Diane Green

Improving accessibility...

In this edition of Para Equestrian Digest, Grade I Para Dressage athlete Diane Green (GBR), a hospitality consultant, provides her view of what hotels and other leisure facilities can do to better cater for people with disabilities.

As well as being an international athlete, Diane also founded the Para Equestrian Foundation in 2021 to offer both therapeutic riding and competition riding experience to a large number of athletes across the globe, through mentorship and training for both riders and their coaches...

"Accessibility is about being able to blend in!"

I was injured some 25 years ago while leading a horse that was sedated for turn out, following several months of box rest. It was a cold January day and the horse woke up, fully fly bucked, and got me in the face with his hind leg.

I had eye socket, nose and cheek bone fractures and it is now believed a bleed on the brain had occurred but was undetected. I was later diagnosed with trauma induced Multiple Sclerosis and have very limited mobility. But I still ride and compete for Great Britain as a Grade I.

I worked as a full-time consultant for the hotel industry prior to my accident.

Now alongside my work with the Para Equestrian Foundation, I still consult in the world of hospitality and I’m a disability expert, helping hotels better service the needs of their customers.

Whether that is helping to design bedroom and bathroom concepts, restaurant layouts or general accessibility, I have a wealth of experience and understanding to call upon. I also offer a hotel booking service to help customers book the perfect place for their visit, so they can be sure of an accessible stay to remove any drama. There is nothing worse than not being able to access a property or use the equipment provided because it just hasn't been thought through.

Please click here to read the rest of Diane's story as it appears on the FEI website.