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The five-star winner who defied the odds by going from a paralysed arm to riding at the European Championships in 26 days

Felix Vogg talks about the rehab regime that took him from paralysis to the Europeans in 26 days, an autumn to remember and a theme of quirky rides in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers
Martha Terry Martha Terry

    • Don’t ever tell Felix Vogg he can’t do something. On 23 August last summer, his arm was paralysed in a fall. Just 26 days later, against all medical prognosis, he was riding for his country in the European Eventing Championships. A month after that, he won Maryland five-star, the first Swiss rider to record two victories at the highest level.

    Felix Vogg with his two five-star winners, Colero and Cartania.

    Felix Vogg with his two five-star winners Cartania and Colero, at his base near Geneva. Credit: Maxime David – MXIMD Pictures

    “When I got up from the fall, I thought I was fine although it was hurting a bit,” describes Felix, 35. “I tried to get on to my next horse, but needed two people to help me and then I really couldn’t ride.”

    Things deteriorated rapidly as the adrenaline wore off, until he was unable to move his entire arm – bar the hand.

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    Martha Terry
    Martha Terry

    H&H features editor
    Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
    Martha Terry

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