How working with horses helped a professional dressage rider deal with a family crisis

Natalie Lankester is a professional dressage rider who will represent the United Arab Emirates at the Asian Games in September 2022.

Originally from the UK, Natalie developed a love of horses at an early age thanks to her grandmother who was herself a dressage rider. “Once you have a connection with a horse, it stays with you,” says Natalie.

However, over the years she focused more on her education and dressage remained a hobby. That was until she moved to Dubai in 2010.

“It made me cringe, I couldn’t watch the horses on TV and not feel anything,” she told Euronews.

In 2014, she got her first horse in Dubai, which was a racehorse.

“He introduced me to the sport here, so I’m very grateful to him,” she added. Eventually, Natalie met her husband, Rashid, who had won a silver medal for the United Arab Emirates at the Asian Games in 2010 for show jumping. “Although we share the same passion, we are in different disciplines, so we can enjoy the environment and the trip together without being direct competitors,” she said.

Natalie progressed in her career and with the help of her horses Allie and Viva got her through her first seasons in the UAE. “I was developing my horses, I was developing myself, then my husband was diagnosed with leukemia,” she told Euronews.

In times of uncertainty and worry, Natalie found her serenity with her horses, which gave her the “calm and positivity” she needed to “fight the battles of the day” alongside her husband. “It was during this time that I really appreciated the relationship I have with horses. They are able to connect with me and really keep me grounded,” she explained.

After Rashid responded well to her treatments, Natalie returned to competition, riding her horses Echo and Furst Dance DXB and securing her place in the UAE team for the 2022 Asian Games.

“I’m very proud to call Dubai home. I’m proud to be part of the development of the dressage scene here, and I hope to do something and make everyone proud,” says Natalie.