We are thrilled to share that Kata was featured along with 3 other young equestrians in the May issue of California Riding Magazine’s article “Beneath the Hunt Coat.” The article shared their experiences excelling in and out of the ring with Type 1 diabetes.
Katalina Rickard
Fourteen year old Katalina Rickard is an eighth-grader at Village Christian School in Sun Valley. She competes mostly in the bigger equitation and hunter classes.
Even at this young age Katalina has to manage her T1D. “I try to never let T1D affect what I can do in riding and I always try to keep my medicine with me and my levels consistent when I’m showing. I see myself as familiar to my competitors as any other kid would be. My disease doesn’t have to define me so why would I let it?”
She, too, has her amazing stories of coping and showing. “While I was showing at the Onondarka Finals, as an 11-year-old, I was about to go into my first round when I realized I wasn’t feeling quite right. I then tested and found my blood sugar level was at 40, which is dangerously low. I was next in the ring and didn’t want to make a fuss about my ‹ability’ to complete. I ate a few mints then entered the ring. Thankfully, I made it through my round then drank near a whole bottle of Gatorade. In hindsight we should have been more prepared but I’m glad that I went through with my round.”
Click Here to Read the Full Story
Written by Aimee LaFayette