JORGENSEN Tobias Thorning

Classification
GRADE III (FEI, 11 Jun 2020)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (ridehesten.com, 02 Apr 2020)

Impairment Details
In 2013 he was diagnosed with myopathy, a condition that affects his muscle fibers and means he gets tired easily. "My illness broke out relatively late when I was 10 or 11 years old, so I was able to play football and things like that." (ridehesten.com, 02 Apr 2020; politiken.dk, 22 Dec 2019; dhif.dk, 16 Sep 2015)

General
FAMILY AFFAIR
His mother Line represented Denmark in dressage at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. After taking some time away from the sport, she returned to competition in 2019 and she and Tobias competed together at the CPEDI3* event in Randbol, Denmark, in March of that year. The pair now both hope to take part in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. "It's a dream we both have. It would be great to get together and be with the whole family," Tobias said. (fei.org, 25 Aug 2019; tvsyd.dk, 16 Mar 2019)

RIDING AIDS
He uses two whips as compensating aids when he rides, which presents challenges when it comes to riding horses that previously worked with able-bodied riders. "It can take one to two years before we know each other really well. At first there may be misunderstandings because I have some aids that are unusual to them." (tvsyd.dk, 20 Aug 2019)

SWITCHING DISCIPLINES
He was involved in equestrian jumping as a boy but switched to Para dressage in 2013 after he was diagnosed with myopathy. The condition affects the muscles in his back. "At first I was anxious, but finding dressage meant I could still continue to ride horses. When I was showjumping, my back meant I could only ride one day a week so I had to give it up. Of course I still miss it." (dhif.dk, 16 Sep 2015)

WEG DISAPPOINTMENT
He was forced to withdraw from the 2018 World Equestrian Games [WEG] in Tryon, NC, United States of America, as his horse Bruunholms Caribian sustained an injury ahead of the event. (ridehesten.com, 27 Aug 2018; rideforbund.dk, 27 Aug 2018)