Emma Booth at the 2022 FEI World Championships. Image: Roger Fitzhardinge.

Emma Booth announces new dance partner

By Equestrian Life

Paralympian Emma Booth has announced that she’s found a new dance partner in Europe and will be campaigning for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Saimir is an eight-year-old, 16.2hh chestnut gelding by Scolari out of a Weltmeyer mare and is owned and trained by Germany’s Marco Bührig.

“I’d like to introduce my new dancing partner – the unicorn that was in the right place at the right time. Saimir has a wonderful, cheeky personality and absolutely loves people! He loves human interaction, cuddles and attention,” announced Emma via social media.

“Marco has done a wonderful job producing such a well-balanced and correctly educated horse. He knows Saimir inside and out, and for this reason we’re excited to be basing ourselves at their barn, Reitsportanlage BP, in Loxstedt, Germany.”  

“We’ll be commencing a daily training schedule this week and will be working towards our first Paris 2024 qualifying event in Waragem, Belgium on the 19th of April, which is just over four weeks from now!”

“What a crazy couple of weeks it’s been! Pinching myself that we are in Germany with a super horse I’ll be campaigning towards the Paralympics. I can’t believe how this year is panning out and all the incredible opportunities that have presented themselves. Loving this European journey and it’s only just begun.”

Emma is no stranger to the Paralympics, having represented Australia with the late Zidane at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Emma was also part of the Aussie team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games with Zidane, and in 2022 she competed at the FEI World Championships with Furst Deluxe – a partnership facilitated and supported by German-based Australian dressage rider Maree Tomkinson.

Equestrian Life wishes Emma all the best in her campaign for a third Paralympic Games!

The race for Paralympic team selection is looking stronger than ever, with several Australian-based combinations already posting qualifying scores. You can read more about who's currently in contention via the March issue of Equestrian Life magazine.

Published 19 March 2024.

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