‘I was unable to read the test’

IMAGINE entering a dressage arena and not being able to read the letters, or struggling to count the correct number of flying changes because you can’t add up. For people with dyslexia, this is what can hold them back from a successful competition career despite their passion, commitment and talent.

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects reading and writing skills, but it can also impact a person’s memory and how they process visual and auditory information. It can also impact organisational skills, multitasking and communication.

“Dyslexia can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life,” explains Helen Goodsall, knowledge and information manager at the British Dyslexia Association. “An individual’s experience of dyslexia can vary hugely from mild to severe and it is a lifelong condition.”