Quadriplegic at 16 after a fall, Sarah rebuilds herself… with her horses in Loire-Atlantique

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His smile and his joy of life are immediately striking. Sarah Morinière, 19 years old, welcomes in his living room.

The family garage has been transformed into an apartment, including a large bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette area, with enough space to move around.

Because the young woman from Saint-Julien-de-Concelles (near Nantes) is in a wheelchair.

A fatal fall with his horse Too Nice Lover

Sarah became quadriplegic at 16 and a half years old, following a horse riding accident. It was May 9, 2021. In an equestrian center in Vendée, near Montaigu.

Sarah then trains with Too Nice Lover, her competition horse, in her free time. Since she was little, she has dedicated a limitless passion for horses. That day, his life changed. On the bad side.

While jumping, he caught the bars. We stumbled together. It was my first fall with him.

A “not impressive” but fatal fall, before the eyes of his parents Catherine and Olivier. Despite the airbag and the bomb (helmet on head), Sarah understands immediately once she falls. “I am aware and I know it is very serious. My neck hurt horribly,” she says today.

Helicoptered to Nantes University Hospitalshe goes straight to the operating room. His vertebra is “exploded”. “We were immediately informed that she was going to be quadriplegic,” says her mother.

She finds her horse three months later

A new life begins. For Sarah, but also her parents and her two older brothers. There rehabilitation at Saint-Jacques hospital lasts one year.

If his legs no longer respond, his mind does not fail. “Doing sports and physiotherapy sessions every day kept me going. But I only wanted to go home.” To find his horses. Too Nice Lover first. Thing done three months later. “There was a lot of emotion during the reunion,” confirms her mother, taking care of her youngest daughter.

I remember he was very upset when I approached him. I didn't blame him at all, because he had no intention of harming me. It was a stupid accident.

“My horses give me strength to move forward”

After the accident, the question arose for her who was in professional baccalaureate to become an equestrian activities instructor. What to do? How to rebuild yourself?

One thing is sure, it will be among the equines that she cherishes so much. “I have always been attracted to horses, even though there were none at home,” explains Sarah. They bring me happiness. With them, I don't think about anything and I feel good. I have experienced very hard times, but they give me strength to move forward.”

“It’s more than a passion, it’s all-consuming,” continues Catherine, who was not reassured by the idea of ​​seeing her daughter register at the equestrian center for the first time. “She can’t go a day without being in contact with horses.”

A quarry and paddocks built at home

The rider, who participated in the French team championship in 2019, must give up on CSOs (show jumping competition), but wants to get back on horseback and try para-harness (driving an equine harnessed to an adapted horse-drawn vehicle).

She gets there, at the cost of unfailing determination. This is what drives him today.

Her family and loved ones therefore set up a career and paddocks for her last spring. At her place. In the heart of the Morinière wine estate. “We tore up the vines, stabilized the land to do all that,” shows his father Olivier, wine grower.

Solidarity was also launched for the equipment.

Thanks to the help of the Road to Handisport association (in Mouzillon), she was able to afford a cavalev, a rider lift which allows him to transfer from his chair to the hitch in complete safety. “It’s his life project. Everything is nearby. We couldn’t have dreamed of anything better for her,” say her parents.

She lives alongside Too Nice Lover

Here Sarah is obviously surrounded by her horses. In the Morinière private stable, as it is called, there are five. Including Molly, the youngest purchased in July for para-harness.

Then Loulou, the dean, Djana, Ginger and… Too Nice Lover. The 17-year-old horse, bought when she was in college, lives with Sarah.

Since the accident, nothing has changed between us. I have the same relationship as before. He doesn't see the chair at all and I'm still his date. He is adorable and calm when I am by his side.

A close relationship, like with the other four.

Para-coupling, its new path

Today, his hobby horse is para-harness. His new path. Sarah, who has a personal coach, has just participated in a federal internship in Lamotte-Beuvronwith other para-leaders.

Its objective: to raise awareness of this (non-Paralympic) discipline and to show, particularly to schools, that “despite the handicap, we can continue to achieve great things”.

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