Britain's blind showjumper Karen Way reveals her love for Pearl

Karen Way, 53, from Stockport, was registered blind 40 years ago She was always passionate about horses but was unable to afford one Former showjumper Emma-Jane Brown wasmoved by Karen's story She raised 9,000 to buy grey mare Pearl by skydiving out of a plane

By Kathryn Knight for the Daily Mail

Published: 06:17 EST, 28 January 2015 | Updated: 08:08 EST, 28 January 2015

Soaring gracefully over the fences in the showjumping arena as her trainer shouts his instructions, Karen Way looks every bit the accomplished horsewoman.

Listen carefully however, and even a novice might sense that some of the commands seem surprisingly simple. Like walk straight and make the turn.

But then they need to be - because Karen, 53, from Stockport, cant see where she is going. Shes blind, and relies on both her instructor and her bond with her beautiful eight-year-old-grey mare, Pearl, to navigate her way around the course and its many fences, some of which are over a metre high.

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Karen Way is Britain's only blind showjumper who has an extraordinary bond with her horse Pearl

It requires extraordinary trust, not to mention courage qualities that 53-year-old Karen has in abundance, along with a humbling lack of self-pity.

Bumps, falls, she has had them all along with a nasty scar on her neck from one unceremonious unsaddling and a firm kick under the chin from one steed less gracious than her beloved Pearl.

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Britain's blind showjumper Karen Way reveals her love for Pearl