Joann Formosa, (born 19 February 1961) is an Australian

Para-equestrian Para-equestrian is an equestrian sport governed by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), and includes two competitive events. One is para-equestrian dressage, which is conducted under the same basic rules as conventional dre ...

, who won a gold medal at the

2012 London Paralympics The 2012 Summer Paralympics, branded as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, were an international Multi-sport event, multi-sport parasports event held from 29 August to 9 September 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. They were the 14th Sum ...

Personal

Joann Helen Formosa was born on 19 February 1961, and is from Broadford in central Victoria. She attended university, where she studied art. Formosa has spinal cord and nerve damage, caused by an accident following an attempt to open a gate while she was riding a horse. She can walk with the aid of crutches, though she is not self-sufficient, and requires assistance from nursing staff at Mitchell Community Health Services. She has severe allergies to substances including horse feed and hay.

Equestrian

Formosa started competing in equestrian in 1980. Before her accident, she competed in

dressage Dressage ( or ; , most commonly translated as "training") is a form of horse riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an art sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. As an equestrianism, equestrian sport defined by th ...

and

show jumping Show jumping is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows ar ...

events. She helped found Kilmore Adult Riding Club, the first adult pony club in her region. Formosa is a Grade 1B equestrian dressage competitor. As a competitor in this class, she is required to perform a "dressage test involving medium to collected walk, a quarter walk pirouette and a long rein walk, as well as working trot and lengthening in the trot." She competes without stirrups as she does not have enough leg control to justify them. She has been coached by Manuela McLeans since 2011. She is a member of Riding for the Disabled Victoria, and is based at the Australian Equine Behaviour Centre at Clonbinane. , she has a scholarship with the

Victorian Institute of Sport The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) is the government-funded sporting institute of the Australian state of Victoria. It provides high performance sports programs for talented athletes, enabling them to achieve national and international succ ...

. At the 2006 Victorian State Dressage Championships, Formosa finished first in the Grade 1B event while riding Greenhill Chromes Reflection. She competed in the 2006 World Equestrian Games, where she made her national team debut and competed in her first competition outside Australia. After returning from this competition, Formosa had an accident while riding her horse. She was a member of Australia's 2009 National High Performance Squad. In 2009, she competed in the Australian Masters Game. She finished first in the 2011 National Championship in the Grade 1B category. At the Victorian-hosted 2011 Oceania Championships, she won two gold medals. At the

, she won a gold medal in the Mixed Dressage - Championship grade Ib event. She qualified on Worldwide PB, a "former

Wanganui Whanganui, also spelt Wanganui, is a list of cities in New Zealand, city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest nav ...

-owned

Hanoverian The adjective Hanoverian is used to describe: * British monarchs or supporters of the House of Hanover, the dynasty which ruled the United Kingdom from 1714 to 1901 * things relating to; ** Electorate of Hanover ** Kingdom of Hanover ** Province of ...

stallion" that she acquired in December 2011.

Recognition

In November 2013, Formosa was awarded the

Federation Equestre Internationale The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (, FEI) is the international governing body of equestrian sports. The FEI came into being following the Olympic Congress in Lausanne (SUI) in 1921 from May 28 to May 30. It's headquarters are i ...

(FEI) Against All Odds award. She was awarded an

Order of Australia Medal The Order of Australia is an Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of then ...

in the 2014

Australia Day Honours The Australian honours and awards system refers to all orders, decorations, and medals, as instituted by letters patent from the Monarch of Australia and countersigned by the Australian prime minister at the time, that have been progressively ...

"for service to sport as a Gold Medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Formosa, Joann Paralympic equestrians for Australia Australian female equestrians Equestrians at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics Paralympic gold medalists for Australia Victorian Institute of Sport alumni Sportswomen from Victoria (state) Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia 1961 births Living people Paralympic medalists in equestrian 21st-century Australian sportswomen 20th-century Australian sportswomen