Marita Hird

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Marita Hird

| image = 150600 - Marita Hird - 3a - 2000 Sydney media guide scan.jpg

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| caption = 2000 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Hird

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| nationality = {{AUS}}

| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|25 February 1971}}

| birth_place = Kew, Victoria, Australia

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{{MedalCountry|{{AUS}}}}

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Marita Hird (born 25 February 1971){{cite book |title=Australian Media Guide : 2000 Paralympic Games |year=2000 |publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee |location=Sydney}} is a Paralympic equestrian competitor from Australia. She won a bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Games in the Mixed Dressage – Freestyle grade III event.{{cite web |title=Athlete Search Results |url=http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/Results/search.html?npc=AUS&gender=all&medal=medals&sport=all&games=2000PG |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |accessdate=2 October 2011}}

File:271000 - Equestrian Marita Hird action 4 - 3b - 2000 Sydney event photo.jpg

Personal

Hird was born in Kew, Victoria.{{cite book |title=Australian Media Guide : 2000 Paralympic Games |year=2000 |publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee |location=Sydney}} She was a jockey until 1993 when she fell from her horse during a race.{{cite web |title=Marita Hird |url=http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |website=The Australian Equestrian Federation - South Australian Branch |accessdate=11 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211073948/http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |archivedate=11 December 2015}} Hird broke her neck in three places{{cite web |title=The Current Equestrian Paralympic Preparation Squad |url=http://www.horseriding.org.au/RDAA/category133_1.htm |website=Riding For the Disabled Association Australia |accessdate=11 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409155200/http://www.horseriding.org.au/RDAA/category133_1.htm |archive-date=9 April 2013 |url-status=dead }} and was advised that she was an incomplete quadriplegic.{{cite web |title=Marita Hird |url=http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |website=The Australian Equestrian Federation - South Australian Branch |accessdate=11 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211073948/http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |archivedate=11 December 2015}} However, after nine months Hird learned to walk again and began riding horses as a form of therapy.{{cite web |title=Marita Hird |url=http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |website=The Australian Equestrian Federation - South Australian Branch |accessdate=11 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211073948/http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |archivedate=11 December 2015}}

Sporting career

After being encouraged to compete in dressage, Hird won bronze at the World Championships in Aarhus Denmark.{{cite web |title=Marita Hird |url=http://www.desa.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |website=Dubbo Eventing & Showjumping Association |accessdate=11 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211074100/http://www.desa.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |archivedate=11 December 2015}} She went on to win bronze in the Mixed Dressage - Freestyle grade III event at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney. Hird also represented Australia at the 2004 Paralympics where she just missed out on a medal.{{cite web |title=Marita Hird |url=http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |website=The Australian Equestrian Federation - South Australian Branch |accessdate=11 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211073948/http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |archivedate=11 December 2015}} At the 2006 Pacific Rim Championships, held in Vancouver, Hird won three silver medals.{{cite web |title=Marita Hird |url=http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |website=The Australian Equestrian Federation - South Australian Branch |accessdate=11 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211073948/http://www.mtgambiersjc.equestrian.org.au/?ID=34109 |archivedate=11 December 2015}} She credits some of her success to Manolo Mendez, who gave her guidance.

References

External links

{{IPC athlete|marita-hird}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian female equestrians

Category:Paralympic equestrians for Australia

Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Australia

Category:Paralympic medalists in equestrian

Category:Equestrians at the 2000 Summer Paralympics

Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Paralympics

Category:People from Kew, Victoria

Category:Equestrians from Melbourne

Category:Sportswomen from Victoria (state)