Karen Brain: Anything is Possible

Karen Brain Athens Dressage Paralympian, Athens Olympics

Credit: Darlene Brain

Updated:

July 4, 2020

By Kathy Smith

In 2012, we presented the winners of Horse Community Journals' Third Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, honouring remarkable horses and horse people for their achievements and contributions to Canada’s horse industry.

Congratulations to our deserving winners, and thank you to everyone who nominated and helped make the Readers’ Choice Awards a success.

Originally published in 2012, this article features Karen Brain: Anything is Possible

In early September 2001, Karen Brain was one of Canada’s most promising eventing riders, with Olympic aspirations, until she fell from her horse, sustaining injuries that left her an incomplete paraplegic. Just three years later Karen represented Canada in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, winning Individual and Team Bronze Medals. Her dedication and determination are truly remarkable.

Karen Brain Athens Dressage Paralympion, Athens Olympics

Riding Dasskara, Karen took home team and individual bronze medals at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. Photo: Darlene Brain

Karen’s riding career began at age eight, when she began taking riding lessons at a local stable in Victoria, BC. She began eventing as a teenager, moving quickly up the levels until, at age 18, she competed at the North American Young Riders’ Championships.

Over the years, Karen trained with coaches such as Canadian Olympian Nick Holmes-Smith, training hard to reach her goal of someday competing in the Olympics. Her diligence paid off and she represented Canada in the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, Italy, and was shortlisted for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games until her horse unfortunately became unsound. Her future as a Canadian eventing star seemed assured.

On September 18, 2001, Karen was unseated by her horse, landing on her back on the hard ground. The impact completely shattered her T12 vertebra resulting in paralysis of her legs.

After extensive surgery and rehabilitation, Karen regained feeling and movement in her back and legs, and miraculously found herself back in the saddle a mere seven months after her accident.

Karen Brain Athens Dressage Paralympian, karen brain dressage horse dasskara, Athens Olympics

Riding Dasskara, Karen took home team and individual bronze medals at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. Photo: Darlene Brain

“Not once did we ever hear Karen complain about the accident, her injury, or her fate,” recounts her mother, Darlene Brain.

Never one to give up, Karen set her sights on the 2004 Paralympics. Nobody who knew Karen was surprised when she succeeded in her goal. Riding Dasskara, a loaned German-bred Warmblood mare, Karen contributed to Canada’s Team Bronze Medal before winning her own Individual Bronze Medal.

“It was fabulous,” she says of the experience. “[It] was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”

Four years later, Karen returned to compete at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, this time with VDL Odette, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. The pair finished in 10th place in individual competition.

Karen now lives in her hometown of Victoria, BC. An Equine Canada Level 2 Coach, she takes pleasure in teaching riders of all levels. Her story is an inspiration to both able-bodied and disabled riders everywhere, and a reminder that, with a little hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.

More Winners