Riding By Heart, Not By Sight

Legally Blind Rider Turns Paddock Dreams Into Championship Reality

By Hannah McNamara

In a paddock just outside Mackay, where the sun paints the sky gold and hooves drum a steady beat of determination, 24-year-old Jayde Cloke is rewriting what’s possible.

Born with a congenital condition that left her legally blind, Jayde has defied all odds to become a formidable competitor in the Queensland State Equestrian Trials. Riding unassisted, guided by feel, memory, and an unshakable bond with her horses, she’s blazing a trail of courage, composure and ambition.

“We went down to my grandmother’s to fix her fence one day and I got to ride one of my mum’s mate’s horses and that’s where we found out that I was a natural at this sport,” Jayde recalled.

That chance ride kicked off a journey that led her to Mackay Riding for the Disabled around the age of 10. Since then, her progress has been as breathtaking as a gallop across open fields.

By 2022, she was competing at state level – placing second and third in her first championship appearance. The following year in Maryborough, she claimed first in dressage and second in the working trial.

Now, with this year’s state championships approaching in October – and possibly nationals too – Jayde is training harder than ever.

“You have to have good balance and good equitation… improving the way you sit in the saddle, your posture, the way that you hold the reins,” she explained.

She says her coach, Jody Burrows from Mackay Riding For Disabled Association, has been instrumental in her progress.

“She’s honestly amazing. She’s helped me through learning all of my current skills and all of my competition testing.”

Jayde’s training involves working with different horses, and each one is a new challenge.

“It’s like cars. You get in a different car than you’re used to and you have to relearn all the buttons,” she said.

“You’re working in unison with a six to seven hundred kilo animal… it’s not a dictatorship, it’s a partnership.”

That partnership begins with care.

“Just taking the time to stand there and connect… brushing its mane and tail… it’s a great way to bond.”

Her dream is bold, with hopes of making it into the Olympics.

“My big goal… is to someday end up at the Olympics,” Jayde shared.

“As much as yes, a disability is a boundary, there are ways to push past it and test your own limits.”

And Jayde is quick to offer encouragement to others.

“Give it three goes before you say, ‘Well, I can’t do that.’”

She gives credit to her parents who instilled a simple but powerful lesson that she now carries with her.

“The biggest thing they taught me is that ‘no’ is not going to kill me.”

Behind her quiet strength is a network of support, including Feros Care and local coordinator Emily Lomulder, who has witnessed Jayde’s transformation firsthand.

“It’s just been such an amazing achievement to see the difference in Jayde over the years,” Emily said.

“Jayde’s just a great example for others. When she’s got a goal, she finds a way to achieve it.”

Thanks to tailored funding through Riding for the Disabled, facilitated by Feros Care, Jayde’s equestrian journey has flourished.

“It’s empowerment and freedom that are crucial to her wellbeing and quality of life,” Emily said.

“It’s just an absolute inspiration to see what she’s doing with her horse riding and what she’s going to come up with in the future.”

Looking forward, Jayde is determined to not only compete, but to inspire.

“Being around horses is a great form of therapy,” Jayde added.

“Because it’s just you and the animal… the horse picks up on your mood, so you learn to manage your emotions and stay calm.”

In the saddle and in life, Jayde Cloke rides with heart. And with every stride, she proves that vision isn’t just what you see, but rather what you strive to make possible.

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24-year-old, Jayde Cloke’s determination, supported by Feros Care and Emily Lomulder, is rewriting the rules of possibility in equestrian sports. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

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